Cheney: U.S., coalition got 'things right'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. and coalition partners are "getting things right" in Iraq but still have work cut out for them, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Friday.

Speaking at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., Cheney said, "Tough work lies ahead. But the evidence from the theater of war 6,000 miles away is beyond question -- the troop surged has achieved solid results and in a relatively short period of time."

The vice president, addressing about 200 invited guests in the museum's theater, said "the United States and our coalition are getting things right in Iraq.''

Remarking about drawdowns of U.S. combat forces, Cheney said U.S. President George Bush would make decisions about future troop reductions "based on the national interest and nothing else."

Bush outlined plans for troop drawdowns to presurge levels Thursday during a nationally televised address.

After his speech, Cheney visited the museum-side grave site of Ford, for whom Cheney served as chief of staff.