Americans Admire Bush’s Tough Talk, Cheney Says

Speaking to 2,500 Marines, Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that despite “a certain amount of hand-wringing in some quarters” about President Bush’s “axis of evil” comment, he believes that most Americans admire Bush’s tough talk.

“Most Americans find it reassuring to have a commander in chief who speaks the truth and means exactly what he says,” Cheney said during a speech on the tarmac at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Cheney suggested that the next stage in the war on terrorism may involve strikes against countries that are stockpiling chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

And he noted that of the Bush-designated “axis” countries--Iraq, Iran and North Korea--Iraq has already used chemical weapons against its ethnic Kurdish population and Iran.

“Afghanistan is only the beginning of a long and unrelenting effort,” Cheney said. “ . . . Wherever threats are forming against our country, we will respond, and we will respond decisively.”

Cheney’s 10-minute speech--one of his few public appearances since Sept. 11--brought repeated applause and shouts of support.

“When something happens to this country, it really works me up,” said Lance Cpl. Chad Rains, 19, of Fremont, Calif.

But after Cheney spoke, Rep. Susan A. Davis (D-San Diego) told reporters that, among her constituents, a strike on Iraq would probably draw less support than the Afghan war.

Davis, one of several officials in the audience, said she believes that there should be a “thorough discussion” in Congress before any further military action.

“I think sometimes it is better to be more moderate in your statements,” she said of the “axis of evil” comment. “But that is what [Bush] thinks and felt necessary to say.”

The Miramar speech was Cheney’s first stop on a four-day speaking and fund-raising trip through California. Today, he is to speak at the Richard Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda.

Cheney noted that war zone losses “have fallen heavily” on the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar. Seven Marines were killed in a plane crash in Pakistan, and two were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

And last week, two Camp Pendleton-based members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing died when a helicopter crashed near the Salton Sea.

“The families of all these Marines can be forever proud,” he said.