Cheney to Face `Unpopular' War in Japan, Australia (Update1)

[struggle4progress]

By Brendan Murray

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Republicans said Vice President Dick Cheney will find it difficult to stem rising opposition to the war in Iraq among key allies when he visits Japan and Australia next week ...

Australia has 1,400 soldiers in Iraq and Howard, 67, has been a staunch ally in the war, going so far as to criticize Bush's political opponents in the U.S., including Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat seeking his party's presidential nomination.

Australia's opposition Labor leader Kevin Rudd has a lead over Howard in opinion polls ahead of an election this year. Rudd supports a staged withdrawal of Australian troops. Cheney will deliver a speech in Sydney and meet with Rudd on Feb. 23 before his talks with Howard on Feb. 24, the official said ...

The Iraq war also is causing a potential rift in relations with Japan. Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said Jan. 24 that the U.S. made a mistake in going to war against Iraq, a comment that, according to Kyodo News, prompted Cheney to cancel a meeting with Kyuma ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aNh3QiY3Yh7w&refer=japan

[Vidar]

1. When Cheney appears in the light of day, you know they're in trouble.