Give the Devil his due

Dick Cheney – the most powerful Vice President in American history, the man who stepped down from Halliburton to take up the Vice President position while still getting paid bonuses from Halliburton on the one hand, he was also giving juicy unending non tended government contracts to Halliburton for the ‘war against terrorism’ on the other. He touched down in Australia for a wee visit with John Howard. The meeting itself suggests a much deeper agenda, Dick Cheney doesn’t travel anywhere to have to meet anyone, the fact that he is suggests that whatever is being said needs to be one on one. Hopefully Aussie hospitality makes his visit as unpleasant as possible.

Clashes in Sydney before Cheney's Australia trip
SYDNEY - Anti-Iraq war protesters clashed with police in Sydney yesterday ahead of a visit by US Vice President Dick Cheney, underlining divisions within one of Washington's firmest allies over the unpopular war. 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. Protesters held placards saying "Dick Go Home & Take John With You" and "Stop Cheney, Troops Out". Police later relented and shepherded protesters as they marched towards the consulate. Howard has ruled out following Britain's example and cutting troop numbers in Iraq but his unwavering commitment has him walking through a political minefield towards an election later this year.