Cheney at a disclosed location -some strong words

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Cheney: Americans Should Expect More Terrorist Attacks

Friday, October 19, 2001

NEW YORK — Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday that Americans should expect more attacks by terrorists, even as the war to destroy their physical and financial bases proceeds "on course."

"The struggle can only end with their complete and permanent destruction, and in victory for the United States and the cause of freedom," the vice president said.

Cheney addressed the Alfred E. Smith Foundation Memorial Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, an annual New York event that brings together big-name politicians.

On the dais facing the $800-a-plate crowd, Democrats rubbed elbows with Republicans under a giant American flag -- from New York senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer to Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

The dinner allows politicians to trade jokes. And despite the somber tone of Cheney's speech, he dipped into humor.

Acknowledging his rare public appearances since the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks, the vice president joked that "it's nice for a change to be at a disclosed location.

"We haven't been out much lately, and the Waldorf is a lot nicer than our cave," said Cheney, who was joined by his wife Lynne.

In the past five weeks, Cheney has spent much of his time at a secret, secure location.

He joked that there had been speculation he was on a mission over Afghanistan. In fact, he added, a White House aide said he was speaking at the Smith dinner, "and he's gonna bomb."

Then Cheney launched into a speech in which he did not mince words about America's campaign against terrorism.

He assured the audience that the new global war "is proceeding on course," with the current air attacks on Afghanistan to be followed by "covert operations."

He said hundreds of suspected terrorists already have been arrested or detained, their operations disrupted and their financial networks discovered and assets frozen.

Justice, Cheney added, "will be delivered methodically, unsparingly and in full."

However, he predicted, "we have to assume there will be more attacks. ... And, for the first time in our history, we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than will our troops overseas."

Earlier Thursday, Cheney toured the World Trade Center site. He praised those who died rescuing people from the collapsing towers.

"All Americans have come to see this city as a place of bravery, generosity and grace. America loves New York," Cheney told dinner guests.

The annual banquet, sponsored by the city's Roman Catholic Archdiocese, benefits Catholic charities. It is named for the former New York governor who was the unsuccessful 1928 Democratic presidential candidate and the first Catholic to run for president.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Answers

However, he predicted, "we have to assume there will be more attacks. ... And, for the first time in our history, we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than will our troops overseas."

Anyone who doesn't understand that, well, is stupid.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001


I hope he is including those already murdered in the Sept. 11 attacks.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

He was using future tense, Git.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

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