First Japan....
From the Times On Line (h/t Jenise):
From The TimesFebruary 21, 2007
Cheney hit by Tokyo chill
Richard Lloyd Parry in Tokyo
Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, landed in Tokyo last night for what promised to be a frosty series of meetings, after weeks of outspoken criticism of American policy from within the Japanese Government.
Japanese Cabinet Ministers have openly denounced US policy in Iraq as childish and accused the Bush Administration of being cocky. The latest blow was last week’s agreement on North Korea’s nuclear programme which is privately regarded by many in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Government as an American betrayal. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, could hardly have been more dismissive of Mr Cheney’s visit. “Since the other party is coming over,” he said yesterday, when asked what was the point of Mr Cheney’s visit, “it must have some point for the other party.”
The surge of bad feeling towards Japan’s greatest friend and ally is symptomatic of the unease which has spread since Junichiro Koizumi stepped down last September after five years as the country’s most dynamic postwar Prime Minister. After an impressive first month, in which he began to mend strained relations with China and South Korea, Mr Abe’s popularity has gone into a slump, and he has appeared increasingly incapable of controlling his Cabinet.
And from Australia:
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Cheney visit prompts protests
Ten people have been arrested in Sydney during violent clashes between police and protesters at a rally ahead of the arrival of US Vice-President Dick Cheney.
The protest, organised by Stop the War Coalition at Town Hall, turned nasty when about 200 people attempted to break a line of police and march to the US Consulate in Martin Place.
The officers, supported by a line of mounted police, held their positions as activists attempted to break through.
Ten people were arrested in the scuffle with police which calmed after officers negotiated with organisers to allow the group to march on the footpath during busy peak hour traffic.
Superintendent Ron Mason, from The Rocks Local Area Command, said police supported the right to demonstrate as long as there was no disruption to the community.
He said an application from the demonstrators was received but it was unreasonable for demonstrators to block busy streets during peak hour.
"Police have been negotiating for days with this group and they agreed to hold a static demonstration at Town Hall,'' Supt Mason told reporters.
And more on how Australians feel about Iraq from the Australian:
Public loses heart for Howard's war
Matthew Franklin
January 23, 2007
PUBLIC opinion is hardening against the Iraq war, with 62 per cent of voters opposing John Howard's handling of the conflict.
The issue is looming as central to this year's federal election, with 71 per cent of voters saying the issue will affect how they vote.
The findings, in a Newspoll conducted at the weekend exclusively for The Australian, came just days after the Prime Minister offered unqualified backing for US President George W. Bush's escalation of the war.
The poll, among 1152 respondents, also found 56 per cent opposed the Government's treatment of alleged terrorist David Hicks, who has been imprisoned by US authorities in Cuba for five years without being put on trial.
Public support for the Iraq war has fallen steadily over recent months.
A Newspoll conducted in October found only 31 per cent of 1200 respondents wanted Australian troops to remain in Iraq for "as long as necessary" - down from 45 per cent in December 2004.
Last month, another Newspoll found more than 70 per cent of Australians believed the war was not worth fighting.
The new Newspoll found 44per cent of voters strongly opposed Mr Howard's performance on Iraq and 18 per cent partly opposed.
Only 9 per cent strongly supported the Government's handling of the war, while 19 per cent were partly in favour.
