Cheney to Australia: 'You guyz rule (unlike some others who are ditching the war effort...)'
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070223/21/12is5.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 05:23 PM
<b>Cheney thanks Aust for 'standing by mate'</b>
Photo : ABCÂ
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has used the first day of his visit to Australia to urge the nation's leaders not to give up on the war against terrorism.
Mr Cheney has also thanked members of the Australian Defence Force who have fought alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He has cited the Australian song 'True Blue' to show US respect for the Australian troops.
"My purpose is simply to thank them and their comrades for extraordinary service in a time of testing," Mr Cheney said.
"Americans know that for this country 'standing by your mate when he's in a fight' are more than words in a song. They signify a way of life.
"Having Australia's friendship makes my country very grateful and very proud."
Mr Cheney warns if the US-led coalition does not stay in Iraq, the violence in Baghdad will spread to the rest of the country.
He says it is vital that the US and its allies do not give up on tackling terrorism.
(Hint, hint, Britain and Denmark)
"The only option for our security and survival is to go on the offensive, face the threat directly, patiently and systematically until the enemy is destroyed."
<b>Talks with Rudd</b>
The US Vice-President has also held a meeting with Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who does not agree with the need to keeps Australian in Iraq.
Mr Rudd's spokesman says the two had a positive and constructive hour-long meeting.
But the Opposition Leader will be making no public statement about how Mr Cheney responded to Labor's plan to bring the troops home.
Mr Rudd supports sending more troops to Afghanistan but he wants a phased withdrawal from Iraq.
Mr Cheney held talks with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and Defence Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston earlier today.
<b>Charges</b>
Meanwhile, four people have been charged over demonstrations today against the visit by Mr Cheney.
Chanting protesters marched through Sydney's CBD this morning.
Earlier, there was a scuffle between police and protesters when activists dressed in mock uniforms ran into the crowd near a hotel where Mr Cheney was giving a speech.
A woman hurt in the crush was treated by ambulance officers.
Three women and one man have been charged with a range of offences, including impersonating a police officer and assaulting and hindering police.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Excerpts:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070219/2/12gvs.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 05:27 PM
<b>Four arrested over Cheney protest</b>
Four people were arrested as protesters in Sydney clashed with police during a massive security operation to guard visiting US Vice-President Dick Cheney.
More than 100 activists, <b>including former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib,</b> rallied for about two hours on Friday near the inner-city Shangri-La Hotel before Mr Cheney delivered a major speech.
But police far outnumbered protesters and anticipated large protest actions during the visit of Mr Cheney, considered the architect of the Iraq war.
Bomb-sniffer dogs were used to check cars entering a security perimeter around the building. Traffic and pedestrians were directed around closed off streets.
Hundreds of officers have been seconded from stations all over NSW to the operation, code-named Warwick, which has taken more than four weeks to plan.
Senior police say appropriate levels of officers remain at those stations.
More than 60 police, standing shoulder to shoulder, formed a line across the street to prevent protesters, organised by the <b>Stop the War Coalition</b>, from reaching the hotel in The Rocks.
The initial police defence line was backed by at least another 50 mounted police and officers handling dogs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Meanwhile there was also some Love on display for Cheney (cue romantic music):
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->John Ruddick, 36, from Sydney's north shore, was one of three people who came out to support Mr Cheney with a $1,200 banner that read: "The world needs more people like Dick Cheney. We love America."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Australians ought to realise how serious things are, how big a threat their small population faces. Iraq may have been a mistake, but what's opened up there has to be fixed and completed before they leave, unless they want it to blow up in their faces. Islam and its j-had are no joke, but I'm guessing most people in the world still don't realise that.
For whatever reasons America started this war and is staying on, at least they're staying. Leastways, for now.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070223/21/12is5.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 05:23 PM
<b>Cheney thanks Aust for 'standing by mate'</b>
Photo : ABCÂ
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has used the first day of his visit to Australia to urge the nation's leaders not to give up on the war against terrorism.
Mr Cheney has also thanked members of the Australian Defence Force who have fought alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He has cited the Australian song 'True Blue' to show US respect for the Australian troops.
"My purpose is simply to thank them and their comrades for extraordinary service in a time of testing," Mr Cheney said.
"Americans know that for this country 'standing by your mate when he's in a fight' are more than words in a song. They signify a way of life.
"Having Australia's friendship makes my country very grateful and very proud."
Mr Cheney warns if the US-led coalition does not stay in Iraq, the violence in Baghdad will spread to the rest of the country.
He says it is vital that the US and its allies do not give up on tackling terrorism.
(Hint, hint, Britain and Denmark)
"The only option for our security and survival is to go on the offensive, face the threat directly, patiently and systematically until the enemy is destroyed."
<b>Talks with Rudd</b>
The US Vice-President has also held a meeting with Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who does not agree with the need to keeps Australian in Iraq.
Mr Rudd's spokesman says the two had a positive and constructive hour-long meeting.
But the Opposition Leader will be making no public statement about how Mr Cheney responded to Labor's plan to bring the troops home.
Mr Rudd supports sending more troops to Afghanistan but he wants a phased withdrawal from Iraq.
Mr Cheney held talks with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and Defence Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston earlier today.
<b>Charges</b>
Meanwhile, four people have been charged over demonstrations today against the visit by Mr Cheney.
Chanting protesters marched through Sydney's CBD this morning.
Earlier, there was a scuffle between police and protesters when activists dressed in mock uniforms ran into the crowd near a hotel where Mr Cheney was giving a speech.
A woman hurt in the crush was treated by ambulance officers.
Three women and one man have been charged with a range of offences, including impersonating a police officer and assaulting and hindering police.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Excerpts:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070219/2/12gvs.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 05:27 PM
<b>Four arrested over Cheney protest</b>
Four people were arrested as protesters in Sydney clashed with police during a massive security operation to guard visiting US Vice-President Dick Cheney.
More than 100 activists, <b>including former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib,</b> rallied for about two hours on Friday near the inner-city Shangri-La Hotel before Mr Cheney delivered a major speech.
But police far outnumbered protesters and anticipated large protest actions during the visit of Mr Cheney, considered the architect of the Iraq war.
Bomb-sniffer dogs were used to check cars entering a security perimeter around the building. Traffic and pedestrians were directed around closed off streets.
Hundreds of officers have been seconded from stations all over NSW to the operation, code-named Warwick, which has taken more than four weeks to plan.
Senior police say appropriate levels of officers remain at those stations.
More than 60 police, standing shoulder to shoulder, formed a line across the street to prevent protesters, organised by the <b>Stop the War Coalition</b>, from reaching the hotel in The Rocks.
The initial police defence line was backed by at least another 50 mounted police and officers handling dogs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Meanwhile there was also some Love on display for Cheney (cue romantic music):
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->John Ruddick, 36, from Sydney's north shore, was one of three people who came out to support Mr Cheney with a $1,200 banner that read: "The world needs more people like Dick Cheney. We love America."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Australians ought to realise how serious things are, how big a threat their small population faces. Iraq may have been a mistake, but what's opened up there has to be fixed and completed before they leave, unless they want it to blow up in their faces. Islam and its j-had are no joke, but I'm guessing most people in the world still don't realise that.
For whatever reasons America started this war and is staying on, at least they're staying. Leastways, for now.