A majority of Americans, 54 percent say they fear the Bush's administration will move too quickly to take military action against Iraq, according to a recently published poll.
Nearly four in 10, 39 percent, said they are concerned the Bush administration will not move quickly enough, the poll by ABC News and The Washington Post indicated. Half said they are willing to give United Nations weapons inspectors at least a few more months to do their work.
Overall support for military action against Iraq has slipped from 62 percent in December to 57 percent now. Public support for such action varies considerably when other factors such as the backing of allies, timing and possible causalities are included.
Meanwhile, Australia is to deploy troops and equipment to the Gulf region this week for a possible war with Iraq.
Australia's Defence Minister Robert Hill said Tuesday the transport ship HMAS Kanimbla, lead elements of a special forces group and an Air Force reconnaissance team would be deployed within days.
The Kanimbla would leave Sydney on Thursday, joining Australian frigates Anzac and Darwin in the Gulf.
An unspecified number of special forces would be deployed from Perth at a later date, Hill said, while a squadron of up to 14 F/A-18 Hornet jets could be deployed "in the coming weeks".
Hill reiterated that Canberra had yet to make any decision on committing its military to a strike. "The government believes, however, that the forward deployment adds to diplomatic pressure on Saddam Hussein," Hill said in a statement.
"Only by maintaining the pressure, and leaving no doubt about the consequences of non-compliance, will there be a chance of a diplomatic solution."
Opposition leader Simon Crean has attacked the movement of any Australian troops to the Gulf ahead of a United Nations decision. "They should not be deploying any troops to Iraq ahead of authorization by the United Nations," Crean said.
One recent opinion poll showed the Australian public was overwhelmingly opposed to a unilateral strike on Iraq, with fewer than 10 per cent of Australians supporting war without United Nations backing. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
