Dick Cheney on the war on Afghanistan, the Taliban | 60 Minutes Archive
In a Nutshell
Vice President Dick Cheney states the Taliban has collapsed after a devastating U.S. air campaign and Northern Alliance advance, demonstrating the Bush Doctrine that governments harboring terrorists will face consequences. U.S. forces are hunting Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda as they lose sanctuary, with Cheney warning of possible revenge attacks and defending military tribunals for foreign terrorism suspects. Cheney also notes the administration is investigating possible Iraqi links to 9/11 while maintaining continuity of government by keeping Bush and Cheney separated during threats.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
60 Minutes conducted an interview with Vice President Dick Cheney in his office, discussing the war in Afghanistan and domestic security measures. The interview occurred during a period when the Taliban was losing control of Afghan cities and the United States was pursuing Osama bin Laden.
Vice President Cheney described the Taliban as being "in terrible shape" following an "enormously successful" military campaign. The Taliban had controlled approximately 90% of Afghanistan two months prior but had been driven out of most major cities. Cheney attributed their collapse to the devastating air campaign led by General Franks, which destroyed their military capability, followed by the Northern Alliance's advance. The Taliban was described as being in "headlong retreat" rather than regrouping.
Cheney emphasized that events in Afghanistan demonstrated the Bush Doctrine: governments that harbor or provide sanctuary to terrorist organizations will face consequences. The lesson has been "driven home very effectively," with any government considering harboring terrorists needing to reconsider their position after observing the Taliban's fate.
When asked about photographs of summary executions by the Northern Alliance, Cheney stated the United States had discouraged such actions through direct communication with commanders. He acknowledged isolated instances of prisoner executions but noted that painful consequences were expected in the aftermath of capturing cities. Cheney indicated the Northern Alliance had generally maintained control of their forces.
Cheney clarified that US objectives in Afghanistan centered on ending sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network, rather than the broader goal of ending Afghanistan's civil war. He declined to forecast US military operations, stating it was not helpful to signal plans to adversaries. The United States had not needed to deploy a large ground force to achieve results but remained prepared to do whatever was necessary.
Cheney speculated that bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar would be "very very nervous" given the military pressure on their organizations. He noted bin Laden was operating as a foreigner in Afghanistan, and with the Taliban's fall, there was "a lot of animosity" toward him as a foreign element. Areas that were safe for bin Laden 48-72 hours ago were no longer secure, and he was described as being "on the run," moving between locations to stay ahead of opposition forces.
Cheney reported receiving "a lot of reports" about bin Laden's location but declined to be precise. The situation on the ground had changed dramatically, with bin Laden's sanctuary shrinking. Cheney referenced President Bush's statement that the United States would "keep after him until we smoke him out and run him to ground."
Cheney defended the use of special military tribunals for foreigners accused of terrorism, citing precedent from FDR's World War II tribunal for German saboteurs who were tried, found guilty, and executed. He argued that non-citizens who conspire to kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of Americans should not receive the same treatment as American citizens in the normal law enforcement process.
When asked about Saddam Hussein's possible involvement in the September 11 attacks, Cheney stated he had "no way to know" whether Hussein was involved but acknowledged it was "an interesting question" worth pursuing. He referenced the public Czech report that Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the hijackers, met with an Iraqi intelligence official in April 2001 and earlier. Cheney emphasized that decisions must be based on evidence rather than speculation.
Cheney explained that he and President Bush were kept separated, especially when threat levels increased, to prevent potential decapitation of the federal government. This differed from traditional presidential security concerns focused on individual assassins. The separation was planned in advance based on the president's schedule, with Cheney going to physically secure locations with good communications and a small core staff.
Cheney stated the threat level had "clearly gone up" due to intelligence indicating the likelihood of additional attacks. He noted that success in capturing bin Laden could trigger revenge attacks by his loyalists. Cheney acknowledged that bin Laden cells might still be operating in the United States, stating the administration was working to wrap them up but had to assume unknown operatives remained until investigations were complete.
Cheney reported his health was fine despite the crisis, stating his pacemaker had "never gone off" and that his doctors monitored him regularly. He noted that being accompanied by doctors was standard procedure regardless of his heart condition. Cheney described the crisis as making him think about the United States, how Americans live their lives, and family matters. He expressed being "tremendously impressed" with how the country had responded and how Americans had come together.
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