U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney AP PHOTO

Cheney's weeklong tour of the Middle East included an unannounced two-day visit to Iraq and stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan.

Cheney defended his hard-line rhetoric on Iran during the trip and said he sees no conflict with diplomatic overtures to Iran by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others.

The administration announced May 13 that there will be talks in Baghdad within the next few weeks between U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpoint. The talks will focus solely on Iraq.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 19, 2007
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