Cheney seeks greater war effort from allies
Geoff Elliott and Steve Lewis
February 19, 2007
US Vice-President Dick Cheney will discuss a greater Australian contribution to the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan when he meets John Howard later this week as the Bush administration tries to shore up support for the war on terror at home and abroad.
Mr Cheney will travel to Japan and Australia this week to thank two steadfast allies, but a senior administration official indicated the message would not end there, as Washington escalated its troop commitment in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Asked specifically if the US was satisfied with the contributions by Japan and Australia in Afghanistan and Iraq, the senior official said: "Yes. We are very appreciative, which is not to say that you're not always hoping to get others to do more, as the United States does more in each of these places."
The official did not specifically mention increased troop deployments, but added: "My guess is that we will talk about where there are places where we need to have more done, what other contributions we and other countries can make to the efforts of both those conflicts."
The visit by George W. Bush's deputy comes at a sensitive time for the Prime Minister, who is struggling to win public approval for Australia's continued presence in Iraq.
Senior Howard Government figures last night signalled they would be surprised if there was any request for additional troops on the ground but said Australia and the US could discuss putting joint pressure on other countries - particularly European - to do more in Afghanistan.
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Signalling a new phase in the Opposition's tussle with the Coalition over Iraq, Labor foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland said the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should be issued with a blunt message.
"It's quite frankly saying to the Iraqi administration: 'Look, you take charge or you lose power', and that is the only thing that is going to shake them out of what has been quite frankly a disgraceful effort to try and bring security to their people," Mr McClelland told the ABC's Insiders program.
Labor is determined to take a bolder stance on Iraq - despite the vivid memories of 2004 when Mark Latham's troops-home-by-Christmas pledge undermined the Opposition's electoral campaign.
Calling the Iraqi campaign a catastrophe, Mr McClelland said Labor believed the most effective way to get a solution was to exert maximum pressure on the Iraqi Government.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21247856-601,00.html
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