Posted on 01/17/2003 5:04:54 PM PST by JerseyHighlander
By Tom Allard
January 18 2003
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Australians overwhelmingly oppose sending troops to join an invasion of Iraq without United Nations approval, with just 6 per cent supporting involvement in a unilateral United States strike, a new Herald poll has found.
Sixty-two per cent believed Australia should be involved in an attack only if it were endorsed by the UN, the Herald-ACNielsen poll reveals. Thirty per cent won't support war on Iraq under any circumstances.
The findings highlight the political minefield facing the Howard Government as it confronts the possibility of backing a US strike without UN approval. It also raises the prospect of up to 2000 military personnel heading into such a war without the backing of 16 out of 17 Australians.
However, while most Australians appear to be at odds with the Government on the major foreign policy issue, the political primacy of the Prime Minister, John Howard, and his Government remains intact.
Mr Howard's edge over the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, as preferred prime minister is the biggest on record - 38 percentage points, with 65 per cent preferring Mr Howard and 27 per cent Mr Crean.
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The poll results came as UN weapons inspectors revealed they had found 11 empty warheads designed to carry chemical payloads, and one unidentified warhead, in a bunker south of Baghdad - their first discovery in 48 days of inspections.
But there were doubts that the warheads would constitute a breach of UN resolutions. They are similar to warheads bought by Iraq in the 1980s, they have not been tested for chemical residue, and Iraq says it has declared them to the UN.
The Government and Labor said that on the available evidence the warheads did not constitute a trigger for war under UN rules, but the Minister for Defence, Robert Hill, called the finding "very disturbing".
Despite the discovery, the US and its allies still have more to do to persuade the UN to endorse military action as the January 27 deadline for the report by the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, nears.
The poll suggests UN backing is critical for Mr Howard to garner public support for sending troops, due to begin heading to the Gulf in weeks.
Senator Hill said the Government would take public opinion into account when considering whether to go to war but the decision would be on the basis of the national interest.
The poll suggests a hardening of public attitudes against Australia's involvement in Iraq. In late November, polling by UMR Research found that 37 per cent approved of Australia taking part in a US-led attack without UN sanction.
While saying he prefers a UN solution, Mr Howard has repeatedly refused to rule out Australian military involvement in a unilateral strike.
The Herald-ACNielsen poll of 1549 people was taken on Tuesday night, after Mr Howard announced the forward deployment of troops.
It also followed news that Dr Blix had delivered an interim report saying he had yet to uncover stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.
The poll revealed that nearly two out of every three people surveyed believed Australia's involvement in a war against Iraq would increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack on Australian interests.
Mr Howard's high approval was reflected in the Coalition's strong standing. Its first-preference vote is up two percentage points at 45 per cent, compared with the last election, while Labor is down four points to 34 per cent.
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By Tom Allard
January 18 2003
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and all 
These polls are so lopsided and as for Australians including the Opposition government ( the Labour party, Simon Crean & co) who have this love affair with the UN, you are fools.
Im a Christian and often wonder about the one world government thatsis to come and the guy in charge (Satan) and how easily he will dominate and persuade people...it wont be hard coz the stoopid ill-informed fools are already bowing to the likes of the UN.
What a joke, dont my fellow aussies realise that the UN is made up of a number of anti democratic, anti western, anti christian, anti human rights countries. To list a few.......CHINA, GERMANY, FRANCE, MIDDLE-EASTERN NATIONS, etc.
Well stuff the UN I say...Im definately on the USA side on this one...only wish I could reside there but alas I doubt that I could get immigration without some sweetheart marrying me....
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