'If we have a problem with weakness it's stemming from the White House.' Cheney: Obama 'very weak'

Former Vice President Dick Cheney says President Barack Obama is the “weakest” president of his lifetime.

“I think the perception around the world is increasingly negative but I think the main focus is on our president,” Cheney said in an interview with FOX’s “Hannity.” “He’s a very weak president, certainly the weakest I have seen in my lifetime.”


Cheney’s comments come after Obama announced Tuesday plans to pull forces out of Afghanistan. The president has set a goal to “turn the page” on conflicts in Afghanistan by decreasing forces to 9,800 troops on the ground by the close of 2014 and about half of that by the end of 2015.

( Also on POLITICO: Obama: U.S. 'must always lead')

“He’s prepared to pull out, at this point, all of our capability in Afghanistan and not negotiate a stay-behind agreement,” Cheney said. “That’s stupid, unwise and will in fact just reinforce the notion that we’re weak and that we have a president that doesn’t understand his obligations.”

Cheney said that his opinions come not only from his own experience in the White House but also from conversations he has had with world leaders, who are concerned about the Obama administration.

“They all are absolutely convinced that the American capacity to lead and influence events in that part of the world has been dramatically reduced by this president,” said Cheney. “If we have a problem with weakness; its stemming from the White House.”