CHENEY: U.S. IN 'VERY DANGEROUS PERIOD'

Cheney: 'Very Dangerous Period … More Threatening Than the Period Before 9/11'

'9/11 will turn out to be not nearly as bad as the next mass casualty attack against the United States'

9:10 AM, OCT 13, 2014 • BY DANIEL HALPER - THE WEEKLY STANDARD

Vice President Dick Cheney opened up for a nearly two hour interview with Bill Kristol, as part of the latest installment of Conversations With Bill Kristol:

The two discussed Cheney's time as secretary of defense, the Gulf War, the Nixon and Ford Years, the Reagan years, 9/11, and the threats we face today.

On the last point, Cheney surveyed the world -- particulary the Middle East -- and expressed concern about Iran getting nuclear weapons. If that happens, Cheney predicted, many other countries in the region would quickly acquire nuclear weapons, too.

"So we're in a very dangerous period and I think it's more threatening than the period before 9/11," Cheney predicted. "I think 9/11 will turn out to be not nearly as bad as the next mass casualty attack against the United States--which, if and when it comes, will be with something far deadlier than [with] airline tickets and box cutters."

Cheney defended the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques--specifically, waterboarding--used by the Bush administration to help save American lives, as well as the NSA program. He also talked about how congressional leaders, such as Nancy Pelosi, all privately signed off on the programs -- and implored the Bush administration not to bring it to Capitol Hill for discussion.

Kristol ended the conversation by thanking Cheney for his "model" public service.

Daniel Halper is author of Clinton, Inc.: The Audacious Rebuilding of a Political Machine.