Former Vice President Dick Cheney said a “deadlier” attack than 9/11 could happen on U.S. soil if the Iran nuclear deal passes Congress.
During an appearance on Morning Joe Wednesday, Cheney doubled down on his stance against the Middle Eastern country gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, saying the next strike “may involve something far deadlier than airline tickets and box cutters.”
When asked by host Joe Scarborough what he thinks is currently the biggest threat to the country, the former member of the Bush administration warned of a potential nuclear-arms in the Middle East.
“This isn’t just about Iran just getting nukes. This is also about the neighboring states that are going to insist on getting their own,” he said. “They have money to pay for it. That will be a big problem. It’s going to happen right away. That is not going to be the kind of thing that 15 years down the road they may do it. It will be far shorter.”
Saudi Arabia has alluded that it hasn’t ruled out creating its own arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Last week, Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir told Wolf Blitzer the country “will take whatever measures are necessary in order to protect its security.”
While speaking with CNN’s Jamie Gangel Monday, Cheney blamed President Obama for the rise of ISIS, saying he “failed to follow through” on the progress made by the Bush administration prior to 2009.
“They withdrew as quickly as possible and left no stay-behind force there. They created a vacuum. And the vacuum was filled by ISIS,” he said.
According to a recent poll by Defense One, only 26 percent of national security workers agree with the nuclear deal, and less think benefits Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Cheney is set to deliver a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on Sept. 8., just one week before Congress’ deadline to vote on its authorization, speaking out against the president’s views on the nuclear agreement.
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