Cheney Says Obama Moves Raise Terrorism Risks

WASHINGTON -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday he believes President Barack Obama's terrorism-fighting policies are making Americans less safe.

Mr. Cheney said the Bush administration programs involving suspected terrorists and intelligence gathering about possible future attacks were critical to keeping the U.S. safe.

Since becoming president, President Obama has ordered the closing of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and banned certain methods of interrogation for suspected terrorists.

To Mr. Cheney, those changes are raising the risk of attacks on the U.S. President Obama "he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack," Mr. Cheney said, according to the transcript.

The former vice president appeared Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

Separately, Mr. Cheney said it is his opinion that nearly six years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the U.S. has accomplished nearly everything it set out to do.

Mr. Cheney cited a lower level of violence, Iraqi elections and a national constitution. Mr. Cheney says the U.S. has succeeded in creating a democratic government in the heart of the Middle East. Mr. Cheney said he won't say ``Mission Accomplished'' because ``it triggers reactions we don't need.''

Mr. Cheney also took issue with President Obama's pick to be U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Mr. Cheney said diplomat Christopher Hill, chief negotiator on North Korea in the Bush administration, lacks experience in the Mideast.