A GROWING number of Australians believe the war in Iraq was not worth the bloodshed, with opposition hardening as the US-led coalition of the willing struggles to overcome stiff resistance from insurgents.
But there is equally strong backing for Australian troops to stay the course and assist in Iraq's stuttering transition towards democracy.
Amid continuing carnage in strife-torn Iraq – and just days after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including 19 US soldiers, near Mosul – a clear majority of Australians now believe last year's invasion was not worth the effort.
Just 32 per cent of the community believe John Howard's decision to send troops into Iraq was justified, according to a Newspoll conducted exclusively for The Australian.
This represents a steep fall from the 46 per cent surveyed in February who believed Australia's war effort was justified.
Almost 60 per cent now believe it was not worth Australia joining last year's invasion of Iraq. But despite the community's growing dissatisfaction with the war, the Government remains committed to maintaining Australia's military presence in Iraq. The Prime Minister has yet to put a timeframe on withdrawing Australia's 900-strong contingent from the Persian Gulf.
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