"Singapore is a good friend and a close partner in many of the things we're doing today," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"They share, I'd say, a common approach to many of the problems of the world," he said after Tan met Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The two men discussed "the fight against terrorism in particular. They discussed the issue of Iraq and why it was necessary to take action in this case, they discussed the prospects for the rebuilding and the need for all of us to contribute," he said.

Tan also met two of the men responsible for running the US war on Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"He's offered medical units and he's offered various other things," said Rumsfeld. "And it's all now just getting nailed, and it's moving in (to Iraq)."

Tan is also due to inaugurate the Republic of Singapore Air ForcesPeace Vanguard detachment in Fort Marana, Arizona.

Under the Peace Vanguard program, 20 RSAF Apache attack helicopters will be based at the US National Guard unit in Marana where more than 100 pilots and support crew are being trained.

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