Former Vice President Dick Cheney is defending the Bush administration's national security policies, saying they were rooted in a determination not to forget the terrible harm of Sept. 11, AP reported.
Cheney said Thursday that though the administrations and policies have changed, the stakes for the country have not.
He said the Bush administration was driven by a desire to make sure Sept. 11 did not become "a prelude to something worse."
He said that when President Barack Obama takes steps he supports, such as increasing forces in Afghanistan or reversing his plan to release incendiary photos of abused detainees, he will support him.
Cheney delayed his speech until after Obama finished speaking.