More Australians want to bring the troops home from Iraq

Push for Iraq exit growing
Patrick Walters, National security editor
October 31, 2006

FEWER Australians remain committed to our troops staying the course in Iraq, according to the latest Newspoll.

The poll of 1200 respondents conducted last weekend showed that only 31 per cent favoured staying in Iraq "for as long as is necessary", down from 45 per cent in December 2004.

It also found that 37 per cent wanted a definite future withdrawal date set.

Support for an immediate withdrawal has fallen slightly, from 33 per cent in December 2004 to 27 per cent, although the wording of the question has changed slightly.

A record low of 22 per cent of Australians now feel it was worth going to war in Iraq, compared with 27 per cent last December and 46 per cent in February 2004.

The figure for those who believe that it was not worth going to war in Iraq has climbed from 45 per cent in February 2004 to 68 per cent.

Kim Beazley has hardened Labor's stance on an immediate troop pullout from Iraq, arguing that the US-led coalition is exacerbating the country's security problems.

The past fortnight has brought a flood of bad news from Iraq as US forces have struggled to stabilise Baghdad amid a deepening sectarian conflict and as the Bush administration debates a new policy approach. The latest Newspoll shows a majority of Coalition (53 per cent) and Labor supporters (78 per cent) agreed it was not worth going to war.

A big majority - 65 per cent - believes it is unlikely that a stable democratic government will be established in Iraq within the next few years.

And most Australians continue to agree Australia's involvement in the Iraq war has made a terrorist attack more likely.

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