Hancock supported the administration during the panel discussion and asked, "Is it not obvious the leadership of the Democratic Party and the mainstream media openly hope for defeat in Iraq?"

But Hancock, a specialist in political philosophy, said the administration underestimated what it would take to achieve stability after unseating Saddam Hussein in Iraq, simplistically believed democracy would be the natural desire of Iraqis and did not properly prepare Americans for how expensive and extensive war would be.

Hancock also said there were notable defects in the leadership of the president and vice president in preparing for the aftermath of the war.

Hancock also called for better debate at BYU about Cheney's visit and politics in general.

"We need more serious and informed political debate, not just more debate or more open political debate. We need good, strong discussions without exciting all these sensibilities about orthodoxy and dissidence."

Human rights specialist Darren Hawkins criticized Cheney's public positions on torture.

Bowen said she preferred the 1991 version of Dick Cheney, who preached against going to Baghdad after Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War because of potential destabilization in the region.

BYU student Megan Mitchell of Sydney, Australia, appreciated the panel discussion.

"What I think was useful was the idea that there is no need to think just because I'm a Mormon I'm going to be a Republican or think a certain way," Mitchell said. "I think it's a constructive discussion to be having. Like one of the panelists said, we need to be willing to ask the big questions and the tough questions.

"Without doing that, it's hard to say you're really engaging the topic."

A political science professor who missed the panel discussion disagreed with Cooper's assessment of BYU Mormons. "I don't agree with the statement that somehow Republicans at BYU are more prone to do that," said Ray Christensen, who supports the Bush administration. "It's a general phenomenon that people are invested in their candidates and their views."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com