NATIONAL BRIEFING / WASHINGTON, D.C.

The White House strongly rejected criticism from former Vice President Dick Cheney and others that President Obama’s decision on Afghanistan policy is taking too long.

“What Vice President Cheney calls dithering President Obama calls his solemn responsibility to the men and women in uniform and to the American public,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. “I think we’ve all seen what happens when somebody doesn’t take that responsibility seriously.”

Cheney said in a speech Wednesday night that Obama needed to “do what it takes to win” and that “signals of indecision out of Washington hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries.”