Authors: Jeanette Torres

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- One of the architects of the war in Iraq isn't happy with President Obama's order to withdraw all American troops from the country by the end of the year.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney calls the president's decision a "rush for the exit."
Obama announced that the remaining 40,000 U.S. soldiers would complete the military commitment in Iraq on Dec. 31, which abides by an agreement the Bush White House made with Baghdad while Cheney was still vice president.
However, Cheney pointed to a provision that would permit discussions about leaving an American presence after the deadline.  He claimed that the Bush administration envisioned it would be a situation similar to the forces left in Japan and South Korea after those wars ended.
Cheney said having no American soldiers in Iraq would jeopardize fragile security gains, adding that the current White House is "bound and determined to get out no matter what and it would be a real tragedy if we leave too soon before they are ready to fend for themselves."

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