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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cheney hails Australia over Iraq | Cheney hails Australia over Iraq |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney has praised the Australian government for its staunch support for US-led operations in Iraq. | US Vice-President Dick Cheney has praised the Australian government for its staunch support for US-led operations in Iraq. |
| Speaking in Sydney, he thanked Prime Minister John Howard, who he said had "never wavered in the war on terror". | Speaking in Sydney, he thanked Prime Minister John Howard, who he said had "never wavered in the war on terror". |
| Mr Cheney also urged caution against blindly trusting North Korea's promise to disarm, and concern about China's military build-up. | Mr Cheney also urged caution against blindly trusting North Korea's promise to disarm, and concern about China's military build-up. |
| Protesters have been massing in Sydney to rally against Mr Cheney's visit. | Protesters have been massing in Sydney to rally against Mr Cheney's visit. |
| Three people were arrested during scuffles on Friday, and at least seven were arrested after similar scenes on Thursday. | Three people were arrested during scuffles on Friday, and at least seven were arrested after similar scenes on Thursday. |
| Withdrawal dangers | Withdrawal dangers |
| Mr Cheney said Australia had won global recognition for its efforts to fight terrorism. | Mr Cheney said Australia had won global recognition for its efforts to fight terrorism. |
| There have been scuffles between police and anti-war protesters | There have been scuffles between police and anti-war protesters |
| "The United States appreciates it, and the whole world respects you for it," he said in his only public speech of the three-day visit. | "The United States appreciates it, and the whole world respects you for it," he said in his only public speech of the three-day visit. |
| He warned of the dangers of an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq. | He warned of the dangers of an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq. |
| "We are determined to prevail in Iraq because we understand the consequences of failure," he said. | "We are determined to prevail in Iraq because we understand the consequences of failure," he said. |
| "If our coalition withdrew before Iraqis could defend themselves, radical factions would battle for dominance of that country." | "If our coalition withdrew before Iraqis could defend themselves, radical factions would battle for dominance of that country." |
| He also expressed concern that failure in Iraq would lead to more violence in the Middle East. | He also expressed concern that failure in Iraq would lead to more violence in the Middle East. |
| "Having tasted victory in Iraq, jihadists would look for new missions" in Afghanistan and beyond, he said. | "Having tasted victory in Iraq, jihadists would look for new missions" in Afghanistan and beyond, he said. |
| Australia currently has about 1,450 military personnel based in Iraq or involved in Iraq-related operations. | Australia currently has about 1,450 military personnel based in Iraq or involved in Iraq-related operations. |
| Mr Howard - who faces an election battle this year - is under strong domestic pressure to announce a withdrawal of Australian forces. | Mr Howard - who faces an election battle this year - is under strong domestic pressure to announce a withdrawal of Australian forces. |
| An opinion poll earlier this week suggested that more than two-thirds of Australians want Mr Howard to announce a date for withdrawing troops or to order an immediate pull out. | An opinion poll earlier this week suggested that more than two-thirds of Australians want Mr Howard to announce a date for withdrawing troops or to order an immediate pull out. |
| But Mr Howard has instead offered to send an additional 70 military advisers to help train the Iraqi army. | But Mr Howard has instead offered to send an additional 70 military advisers to help train the Iraqi army. |
| Mr Cheney is scheduled to hold talks with Mr Howard on Saturday. | Mr Cheney is scheduled to hold talks with Mr Howard on Saturday. |
| As well as Iraq, Afghanistan is expected to be high on the agenda, with Australia signalling it could commit more troops. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the recent deal with North Korea over its nuclear programme. | As well as Iraq, Afghanistan is expected to be high on the agenda, with Australia signalling it could commit more troops. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the recent deal with North Korea over its nuclear programme. |
| Mr Cheney mentioned the deal during Thursday's speech, questioning whether the North would follow through on its commitments. | Mr Cheney mentioned the deal during Thursday's speech, questioning whether the North would follow through on its commitments. |
| He also had cautionary words for China, saying that its recent destruction of a satellite with a missile and its continued military build-up were "not consistent" with Beijing's stated goal of a peaceful rise. | He also had cautionary words for China, saying that its recent destruction of a satellite with a missile and its continued military build-up were "not consistent" with Beijing's stated goal of a peaceful rise. |
| But he commended Chinese leaders for their positive role in helping secure the six-party nuclear deal with Pyongyang. |