Allies would back action in Iraq, Cheney claims

Vice President Dick Cheney, vowing to “use all the means at our disposal,” said Friday he believes U.S. allies would support aggressive action against Iraq and other rogue nations to fight terrorism.

Cheney said Iraq is “very much of concern” to President Bush and one of the focuses of the U.S. war against terrorism because of its drive to develop weapons of mass destruction and its past support of terrorists.

During a question-and-answer session before the Council on Foreign Relations, Cheney said that the administration intended a multifaceted approach against terror with some of it “visible and public” like the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan and some of it not.

Peace Corps expanding; new director sworn in

President Bush said Friday he is sending the Peace Corps into Afghanistan for the first time since 1979 as part of an effort to double its presence around the world.

“Today the mission is needed more than ever,” Bush said after the swearing-in of Gaddi Vasquez as the organization’s new director.

Bush renewed his commitment to double the number of volunteers abroad to about 15,000 a level not seen since 1966 and to steer more of them to countries that he believes most misunderstand America.

He said that during a visit to Asia next week he will push Chinese officials to allow an expansion of the program there.