Australians fear terrorist attack more likely because of Iraq: poll

Yahoo ^ | Mon, Mar 22, 2004 | AFP

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Australians fear terrorist attack more likely because of Iraq: poll

5 minutes ago

SYDNEY, (AFP) - Almost two-thirds of voters here fear Australia's decision to join the US-led war in Iraq (news - web sites) has increased the chances of terrorist attack, according to a new poll which shows the opposition has boosted its lead over the government.

AFP/File Photo

As national security continues to dominate political debate here, The Australian said its Newspoll findings were the clearest sign yet that voters are dubious about government assurances involvement in the Iraq war would not increase the terrorist threat.

The poll put the opposition well ahead of Prime Minister John Howard's conservative government in the run up to an election late this year and showed Labor leader Mark Latham almost level-pegging Howard as preferred prime minister.

It was conducted as Howard fended off charges of trying to muzzle Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty, who last week linked the Madrid bombings to Spain's support for the invasion of Iraq.

Australia, like Spain, was a strong supporter of US President George W Bush's decision to attack Iraq, despite strong domestic opposition.

The poll showed 65 percent of voters thought terrorist attack on Australia was more likely because of its involvement in the war, while 30 percent thought it made no difference.

Just four months after he was elected leader, Latham's personal approval rating for his performance as opposition leader is at a record 66 percent, with his performance appearing to lift Labor's support to three-year highs.

It also showed Latham's support up three percentage points in a fortnight to 42 percent, just one point behind Howard's 43 percent as preferred prime minister.

"More importantly, Mr Latham has broken the dominance Mr Howard has had as the preferred prime minister in the past two years -- drawing virtually level," the newspaper said.

The survey, conducted last weekend and based on 1,150 interviews, puts Labor's primary vote at 46 percent after a two-percentage-point rise in the past two weeks, while the conservative Liberal-National coalition's primary vote stayed at 41 percent.

After distribution of second preference votes under Australia's preferential voting system, Labor stood at 55 percent to the coalition's 45 percent -- enough to give Labor a landslide win if the election had been held at the weekend.

Latham said Tuesday that despite the latest poll, winning the election would still be a challenge.

"Let's not get carried away here, Mr Howard is a tough and wily competitor. He has gone on a spending spree," Latham told ABC radio.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the election was still months away.

"We have done a lot better in the Newspolls than we are doing now and we have done a lot worse in the Newspolls than we are doing now," he said.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well I have got to include this in regard to Saddam:

Report Details Saddam's Support for Terrorists Who Killed Americans

The above link is the FreeRepublic discussion thread.

The actual article is :

"Saddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror"

It is a pdf document with substantial footnotes and put together by Dewey Murdock of the Hudson Institute.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Spain experience jumped into my mind!

[raloxk]

I agree with most of what you said. Some people here are knee jerk reactionaries. But I dont agree that the war in Iraq is separate from the War on Terror. I am also perplexed by people who think liberating Iraq increased the risk of terorism but liberating Afganistan didnt. If I was in Al Qaeda, I'd be more angry about Afganistan than secular communist Iraq.

[Fred Nerks]

I agree with you, 'the article is spinning' ... 'Almost two-thirds of voters here FEAR Australia's decision to join the US-led war in Iraq has increased the chances of terrorist attack...' says absolutely nothing about how they view the action itself, nor tells if they believe it was justified or not. The majority of aussies are well informed thanks to our lack of PC and our own 9/ll when Bali was bombed and are very proud of our servicemen and women.

The Opposition is well aware of public opinion. They have not taken an opposing stance to the war - I hear no calls of 'bring the troops home' and they fully support the war on terrorism. Heck, if the polls show the voting will be close, it will, in my opinion, prove only how weak the Opposition actually is...so far they haven't opposed very much at all. All we hear is 'where are the WMD?' And we are thoroughly sick of that, aren't you?

[Fred Nerks]

Good on you mate! They deserved that. I tried to be nice...but I liked your reply so much better. Funny isn't it, most of them in the US don't even know where we are on the map..and nothing at all about our history either, it seems. They made no aussie friends here today.

[Texasforever]

You have many friends here. Don't worry.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well I will admit, I got sucked in a bit ( a lot actually ), I consider Australia as one of our most solid allies. But the power of the press to deceive is awesome.

This will show up in the US papers tomorrow, I am sure.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thaks Cap, excellent comments!

Check the ones above.

[Cap Huff]

Thanks for your "down under" perspective! I'm pleased to hear what you have to say about public opinion in Australia.

I'm also pleased that we Americans have such faithful and resolute allies.

By the way, emotions are running pretty high right now, and in a political sense nerves are a bit frayed. We're getting hit with a daily barrage of Barbra Streisand from the media and from certain self-serving politicians and "former advisors." Then something like Madrid happens and people start to lash out. Only a relatively small percentage of Spanish voters switched in the aftermath of the atrocity, but the whole nation has gotten slammed by some folks. We've got more than our fair share of weenies in the U.S.

[montag813]

Aussies become pussies. What hath the world wrought now??? So now they are going to vote in a Commie to appease the towelheads? This, after experiencing rape gangs doin' their women "Lebanese style"? What the hell is wrong down under?

[Cap Huff]

Yep, already did so and commented.

I for one am saying, enough of the negativism, enough of the bitterness, enough of the cynicism, enough of the hand wringing! Those things have never won a war. We didn't win WWII by peeing and moaning everytime something went badly. We didn't win the Cold War by being cynical.

We will prevail.

[Fred Nerks]

I can understand how you might have been sucked in as you say. Let us remember this very important point; The left will now do all it can do to drive a wedge between members of the 'Coalition of the Willing' - any misunderstandings between conservative posters on freerepublic only prove how well the tactic may work if we allow it to influence us.
Yes, I am certain you will see this article in the US press. It's heaven sent for your Left. Painting the aussies as cowards influenced by the elections in Spain - so, who's next?

[torchthemummy]

"that's a given, but will we lose the war? I think it is possible."

Having read a steady stream of posts by you since you joined Jan. 31 of this year, one fact is clear: With you at the helm, we surely would!!!

[raloxk]

why say that?

[torchthemummy]

"What will happen next year of Bush, Blair and Howard lose?"

I can't predict the future but I'd say you would be happy.

[clamper1797]

First the French ... then the Spanish ... now the Aussies ... what the hell has happened to the men of this world.

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks for the response. I understand the cause of the lashing out...pain and frustration...and your loony left I suppose. Never forget, 'divide and conquer' will not work between staunch friends and allies.

[raloxk]

no, i wouldnt

[Texasforever]

now the Aussies

How about we wait and see. Look, whether we like it or not all of our allies have democratically elected leaders and must answer to their people. I am not so sure that enough of our own cowards in this country will not stand up and elect Kerry. Let's take care of our own situation. At least President Bush has had majority support for Iraq from the start and even today; none of our other allied leaders had it even in the beginning.

[torchthemummy]

Okay, maybe I was a little hasty but I'm an optimist by nature but not so much so that I ignore revealing facts that counter my belief. It's not that you don't have some correct statements but they have always been pessimistic and defeatist which only leads one to a lack of hope. I will never lose hope...never!

That being said, we are winning this war - whether others lose it in their respective countries is up to them. But as long as we have someone like W at the helm (and Rumsfield, Rice and Cheney) we will never lose. I don't wish any other country to get anhilated by these Islamic murderers but if you are taken over by the weak, the bullies will setup shop.