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Opposition to Iraq War Reaches 55% in Australia
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Australians are against their country's participation in the coalition effort, according to a poll by AC Nielsen published in The Age. 55 per cent of respondents are opposed to Australia's involvement in Iraq.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,500 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. In December, Australian prime minister John Howard announced the extension of the troop deployment in Iraq, declaring, "It is unlikely we will be out by May (2006). It is far more likely, and this will depend a great deal on how things unfold, that we will be there for a longer period."
In January, Howard—who has headed the federal government since March 1996—said his administration had no knowledge about illegal transactions between the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) and the Iraqi regime of Hussein. Australia has established a special enquiry to look into the allegations.
Support is slightly higher for the participation of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan at 45 per cent. At least 338 soldiers—including one Australian—have died in the war on terrorism, either in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose Australia's involvement in Iraq?
Support | 38% |
Oppose | 55% |
Do you support or oppose Australia's involvement in Afghanistan?
Support | 45% |
Oppose | 48% |
Source: AC Nielsen / The Age
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,399 Australian voters, conducted from Feb. 23 to Feb. 26, 2006. Margin of error is 2.6 per cent.