Cheney: Australian withdrawal from Iraq would be unfortunate

Australian withdrawal from Iraq would be "unfortunate", says Cheney
04 July 2004 1335 hrs (SST)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/93663/1/.html

SYDNEY : US Vice President Dick Cheney stepped up the pressure Sunday on Australia's Labor opposition to reconsider its pledge to recall Australian troops from Iraq if it wins upcoming elections.

In an interview with Channel Nine's Sunday program recorded in Washington, Cheney said Australia's contribution to the coalition in Iraq had been very significant and its early withdrawal would be "unfortunate."

Cheney was the latest senior US official to add his voice to appeals to opposition leader Mark Latham to rethink his promise to withdraw the troops by Christmas if Labor wins this year's election, a move President George W. Bush said would be "disastrous".

Cheney said while he did not want to become involved in Australia's politics, its membership of an alliance of more than 30 nations in Iraq mattered a great deal to the United States.

"I think it would be unfortunate if Australia were to withdraw from the coalition that's achieved such great results up till now," he said.

"Certainly it is of significance for us that our friends and traditional allies in Australia have been willing to step up and be part of this effort.

"It's not easy. It's hard. We've both suffered casualties in the process. We've both had civilians killed as a result of the difficulties that have arisen over the last couple of years, with respect to the international
terrorist threat."

But he said it was vital for the international community to understand that "we all have a stake in the successful outcome of this conflict.

"We're well on our way to doing it, and for the coalition now, or parts of the coalition, to turn their backs on the Iraqi people, to in effect walk away from the sacrifice that's already been made and the accomplishments that have already been achieved would be -- would be unfortunate."

Cheney also promised that Australian terror suspect David Hicks, who is currently a detainee at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, would be given a fair trial.

Adelaide-born Hicks, 28, who was captured fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan in December 2001, is facing trial by a US military commission on charges of conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder and aiding the enemy.

Supporters of Hicks and a second Australian terrorist suspect, Mamdouh Habib, were encouraged by a recent US Supreme Court decision to grant Guantanamo Bay detainees the right to challenge their detention in US courts.

But Cheney said that while the implications of the Supreme Court decision were still being "sorted out", he expected the military commission structure to survive any legal challenges and as such, its authority would not be overturned.

- AFP