Combat pullout won't hurt alliance: Cheney

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http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/24/howardcheney_wideweb__470x332,0.jpg


Kerry-Anne Walsh
February 25, 2007

PULLING Australian combat troops out of Iraq would not damage America's alliance with Australia, US Vice-President Dick Cheney has conceded.

In a joint press conference in Sydney yesterday, preceded by tight security and marked by its brevity, Prime Minister John Howard and Mr Cheney reaffirmed the strength of the friendship between the two countries.

But when pressed on whether the long-held alliance would suffer if Australia's 500-strong combat troops were pulled out of Iraq, Mr Cheney praised the friendship as "rock solid".

"I don't see any prospects of damage to the alliance," Mr Cheney said.

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