Two-Thirds of Australians Regret Iraq War

[sabra]

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/10397

Two-Thirds of Australians Regret Iraq War


(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in Australia believe their government made a mistake in joining the coalition effort, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 66 per cent of respondents think it was not worth it going to war in Iraq, up eight points in a year.

The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,376 soldiers—including one Australian—have died during the military operation.

Australia originally committed 2,000 troops to the war, but currently keeps about 1,320 soldiers in the Persian Gulf, including 450 troops who protect Japanese engineers and train Iraqi forces.

[Erika]

1. Even the coalition of the bribed is being forced to wake up

You don't do away with terrorism by holding war games in Iraq. Iraq never did a thing to us. We have no right to be there.

This war is insane and the only ones who don't see it are the Bushbots who don't want to admit we sacrificied our military for nothing. Well their pride is not worth future deaths.

[cal04]

2. Voters abandon PM over Iraq war

VOTER support for John Howard's decision to go to war in Iraq is in freefall, with even Coalition supporters who backed the 2003 invasion now questioning the value of the protracted conflict. Fewer than half of Coalition supporters now believe the Iraq war was worth it, according to a Newspoll conducted exclusively for The Weekend Australian.

In total, two-thirds of Australians, about 66 per cent, now believe it was not worth going to war, up from 58 per cent a year ago. Just 27 per cent believe it was worth it, compared with 32per cent a year ago. Among Coalition voters, only 43 per cent believe it was worth going to war, a sharp drop from 50 per cent last December and 63 per cent early last year.

Despite the figures, however, insurgent violence, kidnappings and a dispute over power-sharing in the wake of the December 15 Iraqi elections continue to jeopardise any plans by the Prime Minister to withdraw troops from the troubled country. Mr Howard has repeatedly said Australia will not "cut and run" from Iraq, prompting defence strategists to claim that the results would not have any political significance.

Australia has 1320 troops in the Iraq theatre, including 450 troops protecting Japanese engineers and training Iraqi forces in al-Muthanna, in the south. The al-Muthanna taskforce was due home in May 2006, but its stay is likely to be extended. And Mr Howard could come under further pressure from Washington to supply more troops in the coming year if the US needs to support greater Iraqi reconstruction efforts.

where have we heard that line before
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17697959%255E601,00.html

[Missy M]

3. Howard's government is exactly like the Bush government....

it doesn't matter what the people think or want, they just do what they want. I thought our government was supposed to be "of the people, by the people and for the people". That concept has been flushed down the toilet with Bush/Cheney in office. They must be ousted from office.

[0007]

4. I noticed the Australians keep putting Howard back into office.

While junior complaints that he's not happy with congress.

[Josh]

7. Yeah, sorry about that, but

we really are trying to reverse that.

Very mathematically difficult, I'm afraid.

Also Australia is a very conserative electorate. We've changed governments four times in the last 56 years.

[merwin]

5. kick

[lovuian]

6. Poll: Australians' support for Iraq war falling

http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/12/31/70772.html

Australians' support for the government decision to invade Iraq has fallen, with two thirds now saying the war was not worthwhile, a poll indicated Saturday.

The respected Newspoll results are bad news for Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch U.S. ally who has vowed to keep Australian troops in Iraq as long as they are needed.

The 66 percent of Australians who said the war was not worthwhile was up from 58 percent a year ago, the poll published in The Australian national newspaper found.
more...

Its not worth the damage its caused...

[Thom Little]

8. Howard is toast