Cheney dismisses Iraq criticism as "hogwash"

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) U S Vice President Dick Cheney has dismissed as ''hogwash'' criticism that the Bush administration led the United States recklessly into war in Iraq and had lost credibility because of its blunders there.

Cheney, a driving force in the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, vehemently defended U S Iraq policy yesterday in a sometimes testy television encounter a day after President George W. Bush urged a skeptical Congress to give his retooled war plan a chance.

''We have to have the stomach to finish the task,'' Cheney told CNN's Wolf Blitzer as Bush pressed ahead with plans to send 21,500 more troops to fight in the increasingly unpopular war.

Cheney was asked about the Democratic response to Bush's State of the Union speech, in which Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia declared: ''The president took us into this war recklessly. ...

We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable -- and predicted -- disarray that has followed.'' Cheney, also questioned about the impression of a credibility problem over Iraq, replied: ''I simply don't accept the premise of your question. I just think it's hogwash.'' ''Now, the critics have not suggested a policy ... All they want to do, all they've recommended, is to redeploy or to withdraw our forces,'' he said.

Echoing Bush's refusal to give ground, Cheney, known for his tough-talking style, vowed the administration would be undeterred if the new Democratic-controlled Senate passes proposed resolutions opposing the troop increase.

''It won't stop us, and it would be, I think, detrimental from the standpoint of the troops,'' Cheney said. ''The Congress has control over the purse strings. They have the right, obviously, if they want, to cut off funding. But in terms of this effort, the president has made his decision.'' Democratic leaders have stopped short of threatening to halt funding, mindful that would allow Bush's Republicans to accuse them of abandoning the troops as the 2008 presidential race gears up.

Cheney was put on the defensive from the start of the interview when he was asked about the U.S. military's failure to take out Osama bin Laden: ''Why can't you find this guy?'' Cheney said, ''Well, obviously, he's well hidden.'' REUTERS PDS RN0600