Opposition mounts against Afghan war

• Daniel Flitton
• September 30, 2008
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PUBLIC opinion has soured against the war in Afghanistan, with a new poll showing most Australians now oppose the troop deployment.

And in worrying signs for the Federal Government — which argued that Australia needed to pull out of the unpopular Iraq war and focus on Afghanistan — only half the country is confident Australia has clear aims in the conflict.

The survey, released yesterday by the Lowy Institute for International Policy, suggests mixed views on the reasons driving Australia's almost seven-year military commitment.

People are more likely to see Australian actions in Afghanistan as support for the US alliance rather than a fight against international terrorism or an effort to back up local democracy.

In a 10-point jump on 2007 figures, 56% of Australians are now opposed to continued military involvement.

"That's a clear shift from last year and it looks to me like a process of Australians shifting their attitudes on Iraq to Afghanistan," said Lowy Institute executive director Allan Gyngell.

Iraq has been portrayed as the "bad war" because of fraught arguments about the US invasion and false allegations over weapons of mass destruction. By contrast, the invasion of Afghanistan was given wide backing in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and dubbed the "good war".

But Mr Gyngell said the latest poll shows Australians are no longer making a good/bad distinction in the face of rising combat deaths.

Of the six Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, five have died during the past year. A total of 52 Australian military personnel have been wounded since the conflict began.

But the survey — which tracks Australians' attitudes on foreign affairs — puts the Government on firmer ground in response to other recent international disputes.

Australians are grimly opposed to Japanese whaling. Most said the Government could do even more to stop the hunt, despite the potential cost to valuable trade deals, and a further 33% said Australia's response is about right. Continued...

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