Congress won't prevail, Cheney says

PROVO — The war in Iraq was the news of the day in Washington, D.C., as Vice President Dick Cheney jetted to Utah to serve as the commencement speaker Thursday at Brigham Young University.

Cheney didn't mention the war during his speech — but he had plenty to say about it in an exclusive interview before he addressed the crowd at BYU.

DMN: The House and now the Senate have voted for a war spending bill that requires that troops be pulled out by Oct. 1. The president has said he will veto the bills. What is your reaction?

Cheney: Well, this is something that has been expected. We need the urgent supplemental to fund our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's vital for the troops. It's been long planned. It's been about 80 days now since the president asked for it. The Congress opted to take a vacation in the middle of it instead of finishing the work. Now they're back and they passed the bill. There are a couple of problems with the bill. It places restrictions on the president's ability as the commander in chief to deploy the force, basically. It sets deadlines for our operations in Iraq. It, in effect, mandates a withdrawal, retreat; defeat is another way to look at it. Obviously, we won't accept that. The other part of it is the excess spending in it. In order to get enough votes to pass, they've loaded it up with a number of questionable spending provisions. The president's made it clear from the beginning he will veto it, and he will. So, when it lands on his desk next week, he'll veto it, send it back to the Congress. They can try to override, but they don't have the votes.

DMN: How will the impasse end?

Cheney: Well, there'll have to be another bill passed. The troops are still in the field, still in combat, still need the funds. I think there is a majority in Congress in both houses to pass a clean bill that's acceptable to the president.

DMN: Dana Perino (a White House spokesperson) said today the president is determined to win in Iraq. Is the surge working, and will it ultimately be successful?