Vice President Dick Cheney received a less than effusive welcome during a three-day visit to Australia that ended Sunday, amid lingering tensions over China and the war in Iraq. Australia remains one of Washington’s strongest allies, but as the country heads into an election year, Prime Minister John Howard’s interaction with Cheney appeared perfunctory and brief. The Australian leader waited 36 hours after the vice president’s arrival before meeting him, and even then spared Cheney barely an hour of his time before giving a notably short joint news conference. Full Story