Vice President Cheney Responds To Criticism From Senator Hagel
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WASHINGTON — Vice President Cheney shot back at Senator Hagel, a Republican of Nebraska, who has accused the Bush administration of playing “a ping pong game with American lives” by sending more American troops to Iraq.
“Let’s say I believe firmly in Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican,” Mr. Cheney said. “But it’s very hard sometimes to adhere to that where Chuck Hagel is involved.”
His comments were reported yesterday by Newsweek.
Mr. Hagel has been outspoken in his criticism that the White House lacks a coherent strategy in Iraq. His “ping pong ” remark came Wednesday as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee debated a resolution that condemned President Bush’s troop buildup in Iraq. Mr. Hagel co-sponsored the measure, which the committee approved in a 12–9 vote.
In the interview, Mr. Cheney said he doesn’t spend any time worrying about how the public or the press views him.
When pressed to react, Mr. Cheney said: “Well, I’m vice president, and they’re not.”
