Cheney: Obama is afraid over Afghanistan
Dick Cheney accuses Barack Obama of "dithering" over deploying extra troops to Afghanistan
Thursday, 22, Oct 2009 12:16
By Richard James.
Former US vice president Dick Cheney has accused Barack Obama of "dithering" over deploying extra troops to Afghanistan.
In a speech to a thinktank in Washington, Mr Cheney launched the latest of his long-running criticisms of the president.
Mr Cheney said: "Having announced his Afghanistan strategy in March, President Obama now seems afraid to make a decision, and unable to provide his commander on the ground with the troops he needs to complete the mission.
"It's time for President Obama to make good on his promise. The White House must stop dithering while America's armed forces are in danger.
"Make no mistake, signals of indecision out of Washington hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries.
"Waffling, while our troops on the ground face an emboldened enemy, endangers them and hurts our cause."
In a wide-ranging speech, the former vice president also criticised the Obama administration over its policy on Iraq, Iran and Guantanamo Bay.
Mr Cheney also attacked the decision to abandon the missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.
Plans for the defence shield were formulated during Mr Cheney's time in office while George Bush was in the White House.
The decision to scrap the plans was welcomed by Russia, but Mr Cheney described it as a "strategic blunder and a breach of good faith".
Ever since Mr Obama took office at the start of the year, Mr Cheney has continued to attack the Democrat president, especially on his decision to publish confidential information on intelligence gathering techniques.
Mr Bush, on the other hand, has remained almost completely silent on commenting on his predecessor.