Protesters to greet Cheney in Australia
US vice president Dick Cheney arrives in Australia today to thank one of Washington’s staunchest supporters of the increasingly unpopular Iraq conflict.
Australia is an ally that has become a rarity by offering more, not fewer, troops for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraq and other security issues are expected to dominate Mr Cheney’s three-day visit and talks with prime minister John Howard, who is under increasing political pressure to set an exit strategy for Australia’s 1,400 troops in and around Iraq.
The focus intensified yesterday when the Britain and other allies announced plans to start withdrawing forces from Iraq, leaving Mr Howard to explain why he is not doing the same.
Opinion polls show the Iraq conflict is deeply unpopular among Australians, and anti-war demonstrations are planned outside venues in Sydney where Mr Cheney is to speak or hold meetings.
Hours before Mr Cheney’s arrival, police clashed with protesters at Sydney’s town hall. Ten people were arrested after about 200 demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon and march on the US consulate, said Supt Ron Mason.
En route from Japan, Cheney welcomed the British decision to hand security to domestic Iraqi forces and withdraw around 1,600 troops from southern Iraq over the coming months as “an affirmation of the fact that there are parts of Iraq where things are going pretty well”.
On Monday, Mr Howard said Australia would send another 70 military trainers to Iraq, adding fuel to an already fiery political debate about Australia’s deployment. Howard has refused to set a timetable for the withdrawal of Australian troops, saying it would give terrorists a timetable to claim victory.
Mr Howard said Australia was also considering increasing its contingent of 500 troops in Afghanistan. The Australian newspaper reported the Cabinet had given initial approval for up to 450 more troops.
Mr Cheney is visiting Australia in part to explain Washington’s plan to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq, said Michael McKinley, an expert in US-Australia relations at the Australian National University.
However, he also will want to talk to Mr Howard about North Korea, and probably Iran, Mr McKinley said.
