The US Vice President Dick Cheney has told Virginia Republicans that withdrawing US troops from Iraq would be 'an act of betrayal.'

Cheney spoke at a fundraising dinner at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday, where the state GOP is holding its two-day convention.

He told about 450 Republicans that the upcoming presidential and congressional elections will determine the fate of the US President George W. Bush's tax cuts and Iraq war policy, among other things.

He urged the audience to resist calls by Democrats to withdraw troops from Iraq saying, "The only way to lose this fight is to quit. That would be an act of betrayal and dishonor, and it's not going to happen on our watch."

While praising the Rep. nominee John McCain, he criticized the Democrats saying they will allow tax cuts enacted during Bush's term to expire, given that Democratic leaders have argued that Bush's tax cuts largely favor the wealthy.

"This is going to be one of the major dividing lines between the two parties in this election year," Cheney said.

NA/GM