Nothing dramatic happened -- no new demands or agreements -- during U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's meetings with Japanese leaders this week. His visit should be interpreted as a U.S. effort to reaffirm its close ties with Japan and thus help enhance its image as a world leader as it faces difficult times at home and abroad over its Iraq policy.

Mr. Cheney's visit also provided Japan with an opportunity to cement its ties with the United States amid signs of a possible schism between the two countries following unfavorable comments from two Cabinet ministers about America's Iraq policy. Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma had said U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq was a mistake, and Foreign Minister Taro Aso had called former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's occupation policy in Iraq "very naive."

While Mr. Cheney met with Mr. Aso, he avoided meeting with Mr. Kyuma. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained that Mr. Cheney's stay was too short to meet with Mr. Kyuma. The latter had said Mr. Cheney's higher political rank demanded the meeting with Mr. Abe.