There comes a time when deceit and defiance must be seen for what they are. At that point, a gathering danger must be directly confronted. At that point, we must show that beyond our resolutions is actual resolve.

The quotation frames international conflict as a moral and strategic inflection point: deception (“deceit”) and open challenge (“defiance”) must be recognized plainly, and once recognized, the appropriate response is direct confrontation rather than delay. The rhetoric contrasts words (“resolutions”) with credible commitment (“actual resolve”), implying that deterrence and security depend on demonstrated willingness to act, not merely to declare intentions. In Cheney’s political idiom, this kind of language typically functions to justify a hardening of policy—often preemptive or forceful measures—by presenting the situation as an escalating “gathering danger” that will worsen if not met decisively.