World

Cheney Lands in Australia only to see protest

by clorenz1 | February 22, 2007 at 01:50 pm

805 views | 10 Recommendations | 2 comments

I think it speaks for itself when Cheney's secret service troop was allowed for the first time to be fully armed for the duration of his visit to Australia. The Vice-President landed in the land down under, and immediately took the opportunity to speak against the announcement that British troops will be withdrawing from Iraq. As well the people in Australia had their own strong words for Cheney.

Anti-Iraq war protesters briefly scuffled with police in Sydney on Thursday before the arrival of Vice President Dick Cheney, underlining divisions within one of Washington's firmest allies over the unpopular war.

A police spokeswoman said seven people were arrested when police barred up to 200 Stop the War Coalition protesters from marching through Australia's largest city, demanding Prime Minister John Howard pull troops out of Iraq.

Police detained about six people when up to 200 Stop the War Coalition protesters, demanding Australian Prime Minister John Howard pull troops out of Iraq, tried to march from Sydney Town Hall to the US consulate.

A heavy police presence, including officers mounted on horseback, ringed the protesters in an attempt to minimise disruption to peak-hour commuters, some of whom also squabbled with police.

Armed NSW police and US Secret Service agents surrounded a floodlit tarmac as two police helicopters hovered low overhead, sweeping the airfield with spotlights.

US Secret Service agents have for the first time gained permission to be fully armed during Mr Cheney's brief visit, which ends on Sunday.

Australians Protest Cheney Visit
On a visit to Japan, Vice President Dick Cheney issued what some called a tacit criticism of Britain’s withdrawal.

Vice President Dick Cheney: "I want you to know that the American people will not support a policy of retreat. We want to complete the mission, we want to get it done right, and we want to return with honor."

Cheney was speaking aboard a US aircraft carrier near Tokyo. From there he headed to Australia where protests had already begun ahead of his visit. In Sydney today hundreds of people turned out for a march through the city center. Ten people were arrested when a crowd of more than two-hundred tried to converge on the US consulate.