Cheney's plane hits bird; craft lands safely

Vice president not told of incident until after speaking at conference

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updated 3:03 p.m. ET April 13, 2007

WASHINGTON - Air Force Two carrying Vice President Dick Cheney struck a bird as the plane neared O'Hare International Airport on Friday. The aircraft landed safely.

Mechanics checked the plane while Cheney spoke at the Heritage Foundation's annual leadership conference, but the incident did not delay his departure from the airport to return to Washington.

"A bird hit the right engine of the plane upon landing," said Megan McGinn, a spokeswoman for Cheney. "He was told after he delivered his remarks."

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Cheney attacks congressional Democrats
At the conference, the vice president issued a scathing report card on Democrats in Congress.

"In Iraq, above all, the Democrats' attempt to micromanage our commanders is an unwise and perilous endeavor," Cheney said. "It is impossible to argue that an unconditional timetable for retreat could serve the security interests of the United States or our friends in the region. Instead, it sends a message to our enemies that the calendar is their friend, that all they have to do is wait us out - wait for the date certain, and then claim victory the day after."

Cheney rebuked lawmakers for trying to tie funding for the war in Iraq to such a timetable, calling such a move unacceptable. He said it's the president's sole duty to direct military operations. He also said the country doesn't need 535 secretaries of state, a jab at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who recently traveled to Syria.

After the speech, Cheney, accompanied by his daughter, Liz Cheney, made an unannounced stop so they could buy a birthday gift for one of his granddaughters. Cheney posed for pictures with little girls while Liz Cheney secured a doll with a Western cowboy hat and get-up.