By Felicia Fonseca/
Associated Press
Vice President Dick Cheney today urged a group of Marines to support the war in Iraq, saying now is not the time to lose heart and withdraw troops as some members of Congress have demanded.
"To quit this fight would be to lose this fight, and the consequences would be grievous," he said in Albuquerque at the 84th National Convention of the Marine Corps League.
Cheney received a warm reception from the group of about 700, who hooted and hollered as he took the stage.
The work of the league — made up of active and retired Marines — carries an added significance as the nation confronts "merciless enemies" in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cheney said.
"Because you are leaders in your communities, your help is very important as we remind fellow citizens of the nature of our broader war of terror, the stakes of our country and the need for a systematic and decisive victory," he said.
A group of about 15 protesters calling for an end to the war demonstrated outside the Albuquerque hotel where the vice president spoke. Some of them wore yellow T-shirts emblazoned: "Keep 'em safe, Bring 'em home."
"Nobody is happy with this war," said Tom Powell, who held a sign declaring Cheney a war criminal. "Congress has been acting very cowardly."
Other protesters were asking Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, both New Mexico Republicans, to support a withdrawal of troops.
"I'm putting the heat on them," said Greg Richardson. "I want them to understand they're voting the wrong way."
Cheney told the Marine group that the course chosen for Iraq was not an easy one, but that it will be far easier on the consciousness of Americans to see it through.
"The plain truth is that a sudden withdrawal from Iraq would decimate much of the effort that has gone into fighting the war on terror these last several years and will result in chaos and mounting danger," he said. "For the sake of our own security, we will not stand by and let that happen."
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