Cheney says Obama weak on Afghanistan

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney says the Bush administration's focus on Iraq did not lead to the disintegration of Afghanistan.

In an interview with Politico Monday, Cheney was asked if the Bush administration bears any responsibility for the situation in Afghanistan because of the attention and vast amount of resources diverted to Iraq during Cheney's time as vice president.

"I basically don't," Cheney said.

Cheney accused President Barack Obama of looking weak in the eyes of the military by agonizing over strategies for Afghanistan.

"Every time he delays, defers, debates, changes his position, it begins to raise questions: Is the commander in chief really behind what they've been asked to do?"

In a speech Tuesday at West Point, Obama was to announce he would send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan and outline a general exit strategy, White House officials said.

On other matters, Cheney said he does not plan to run for president in 2012.

"I have no aspirations for further office," he said.