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Australians
believe that PM Howard deceived them over the
justification for the Iraq war. |
82% of respondents in a recent Sky
News Internet poll were opposed to Australia sending more troops
to Iraq; only 18% were in favor. This opinion reflects the
growing disillusionment of many ordinary Australians with the
government’s support for the Iraq war. Exaggerated
intelligence reports, worsening terrorism threats, together with
increased casualties of US troops and recent attacks on the UN,
have all contributed to this decline in the approval of
Australia’s involvement in Iraq.
Mr.
John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, whose support for
American foreign policy is still strong, has taken notice of
this opposition and has, accordingly, ruled out any further
backing in the form of troops for Iraq, even though President
Bush may request them during his upcoming October visit.
Although
Mr. Howard’s popularity as Prime Minister is still high, he
may regret his support for the war as yet more unpalatable
truths are being unveiled about the reasons for Australia’s
involvement.
The
Lead-Up to War
Even
though there were massive anti-war protests in all Australian
capital cities in the run-up to the war, the level of support
for Australian involvement was surprisingly high. A February
News poll showed that 38% of people backed Australia joining the
US war effort. A large majority, however – 53% – were
opposed. 9% were unsure. 67% of Australians would have supported
the war if the UN had backed it.
Protester’s
reasons for opposing the war were wide and varied. Some were
pacifists; others thought that the arguments for war were not
clearly justified; some thought that a pre-emptive strike would
set a bad precedent. Many were against a war that was not backed
by the UN.
In
spite of those protests, Mr. Howard’s commitment to joining
the American action remained strong... The government sent 2000
troops to join the US action. He fiercely defended the case for
war. In an address to the nation he argued, “So far from our
action in Iraq increasing the terrorist threat it will, by
stopping the spread of chemical and biological weapons, make it
less likely that a terrorist attack will be carried out in
Australia.” He also quoted intelligence reports which linked
Hussein’s regime to Al-Qaeda and the Bali bombings.
Leaked
Intelligence Reports
Many
now wonder whether Howard’s reasons for joining the war were
justified as more contrary intelligence has been revealed. No
WMD have been found and evidence that they existed is scarce. In
an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,
former UN Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix stated that these
weapons had been probably destroyed in 1991.
Fears
that the government had given false arguments for going to war,
however, increased, when Andrew Wilkie, an intelligence analyst
with the Office of National Assessments, resigned in disgust. He
accused the Liberal Party government of exaggerating the threat
constituted by the Hussein regime. Like Hans Blix, he claimed
that Iraq’s WMD program was contained. Connections between
Iraq and Al-Qaeda and the Bali bombings were also lies according
to Mr. Wilkie.
More
reports of ‘sexed up’ intelligence claims have led to
further disillusionment with Australia’s involvement in Iraq.
Far from lessening the threat of terrorism, for example, a
report in February by Britain’s Joint Intelligence Committee
warned the Blair government that war would actually increase the
risk of terrorism by Al-Qaeda. According to the report,
war would also increase the risk of WMD falling into terrorist
hands. Mr. Howard, who was aware of this report, chose not to
inform the Australian people of those important anti-war
arguments. Instead, he only used Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC)
reports which strengthened his case for war.
David
Hicks – The Australian Citizen Detained in Guantanamo Bay
The
case of alleged terrorist David Hicks has also created annoyance
here with America’s ‘war on terrorism.’ David Hicks, the
Australian citizen who was arrested in Afghanistan by the
Americans and was accused of fighting for the Taliban, is one of
the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He was due to be tried
by a military tribunal, but this has been suspended and he may
remain in jail indefinitely. The Australian government refuses
to bring him back to be placed on trial here on the grounds that
there were no Australian anti-terrorism laws when he was caught
and he cannot be prosecuted retrospectively. Many Australians
feel that the government has been too weak in supporting the
Bush administration in Hick’s case and lax in protecting an
Australian citizen.
Conclusion
Although
it was recently reported in The Sydney Morning Herald that 70%
of Australians believe that Howard’s arguments for war were
misleading, the Liberal government has a strong approval rating
on the important issues of the economy and national security.
The government is likely to win the next election because of its
good record on these matters and the unpopularity of the Labor
opposition. Nevertheless, distrust with Australia’s backing of
the Bush administration is growing amongst ordinary Australians.
Howard, who claimed that his decision to send troops was
correct, may yet find that the war in Iraq has proved to be his
nemesis.
Lisa
Sanderson is an Australian freelance writer. Holding a
BA in English Literature and a BA in Law, her articles have been
published in many magazines and websites, including Alive
Magazine, Internet.au, Writing Australia, Crescent Blues and
Suite101. You can reach her at starshine@ozemail.com.au.
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