Cheney rejects US 'retreat' from Iraq

In the text of a speech released by the White House on Friday, Cheney said a retreat would encourage terrorist violence.

Vice President Dick Cheney insisted that US forces would not "retreat" from Iraq, despite strong pressure from the Congress to set a timetable for withdrawal from the country.

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In the text of a speech released by the White House on Friday, Cheney said a retreat would encourage terrorist violence.

"Some in our country may believe in good faith that retreating from Iraq would make America safer. Recent experience teaches the opposite lesson," he said.

"To get out before the job is done would convince the terrorists, once again, that free nations will change our policies, forsake our friends and abandon our interests whenever we are confronted with violence and blackmail.