Howard rushes to calm anger over Iraq stand

By GREG ANSLEY Australia correspondent

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard yesterday attempted to cool growing opposition to military action against Iraq by promising to join any American attack only if it was in Australia's national interest.

Howard also tried to stem a strengthening Labor onslaught with an undertaking of full intelligence briefings and consultations for Opposition Leader Simon Crean, and a renewed pledge of parliamentary debate if Australian forces were committed again to the Gulf.

But the Prime Minister's assurances to Parliament failed to calm rising concern over the stridency of the Government's language on Iraq, and motions to bind its hands were introduced to the Senate by the Democrats and Greens.

Farmers, the core constituency of the minor coalition partner the National Party, also remain nervous at the Government's hard line despite Iraq's weekend decision to accept 500,000 tonnes of wheat earlier blocked by Baghdad.

Iraq has warned that a cloud remains over Australian grain sales, and exports worth more than A$820 million ($955.5 million) are still at risk from Canberra's support for United States strikes against President Saddam Hussein.

Public opinion continues to turn against the Government's rhetoric. After two polls last week showing most Australians oppose involvement in a new Gulf war, a UMR Research poll in the Sydney Morning Herald said 57 per cent disapproved of Australian armed forces joining a US-led attack on Iraq.

The poll further said that 47 per cent believed Canberra gave too much support to Washington's foreign policy, against 43 per cent who believed the level of support was about right or not sufficient.

In the Senate yesterday, the Greens introduced a motion demanding a full inquiry into the need for military action against Iraq, and the Democrats demanded the Government rule out involvement in any pre-emptive strike against Iraq or any other country without evidence that an attack by that country was imminent.

Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said Howard's refusal to disclose to Parliament evidence of Baghdad's links to terrorism or of its development of weapons of mass destruction was unacceptable.

He said that given Howard's earlier statements that war with Iraq was probable and that the US would probably ask for Australian involvement, Parliament and the Australian public should have the opportunity to hear the Government's justification for war, and its likely consequences for Australia.

In a question time dominated by Labor's attack on the Government's Iraq policies, Howard yesterday moved to calm concern by claiming no decision was likely to be made by the US in the next few weeks, and that Australian participation would be decided by Australian interests.

"We would have to be completely satisfied that it was in the national interest," he said.

Howard also promised parliamentary debate on any Australian involvement.

Feature: Iraq

UNSCOM

Iraq Action Coalition (against Iraq sanctions

Arab net - Iraq resources

Iraq Oil-for-Food programme

Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq