Howard overrides Iraq war distrust

By NICK SQUIRES

SYDNEY - More than two-thirds of Australians feel they were misled over Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, according to a poll published yesterday.

But despite widespread distrust of the Government's motives for sending troops to Iraq, the Prime Minister, John Howard, continues to enjoy firm support from the electorate and a stronger political position than either United States President George W. Bush or British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The survey of 1200 people, conducted for the Australian newspaper, found that 36 per cent of voters felt Howard had knowingly misled them over Iraq's weapons programme, while 31 per cent believe they were unknowingly misled.

Scepticism over the war has not dented Howard's popularity: 59 per cent of respondents said he was their preferred choice as Prime Minister.

Only 19 per cent said they would vote for the leader of the Labor opposition, Simon Crean.

While Howard's satisfaction rating has fallen five points from 60 to 55 per cent in the past fortnight, so too has that of Crean - from 35 per cent to 30 per cent.

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, noted: "I just don't think Australia has a Prime Minister who seeks to mislead the people ... he's not like that."

Analysts attribute Howard's ability to ride out the storm to his decision to pull the bulk of Australian forces out of Iraq once major combat operations were officially declared over in May.

He told Bush that Australian troops were needed in East Timor and in the South Pacific and the declaration was given added strength with the planned deployment of around 2000 troops to the strife-torn Solomon Islands.

"This has a strategic and logistic basis, as well as a sound political basis, that has ensured Australian mothers - unlike their US counterparts - are not being contacted about the deaths of their children in Iraq," the Australian's political editor, Dennis Shanahan, wrote.


Herald Feature: Iraq