Poll: Most Australians want troops out of Iraq; split on Afghanistan withdrawal

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Most Australians believe their troops should leave Iraq but are divided on whether soldiers should stay in Afghanistan, a poll found Thursday. The survey conducted by foreign policy think tank Lowy Institute found 57 percent of respondents said Australia should not continue to be involved militarily in Iraq, while 37 percent said Australian troops should remain. Another 6 percent were undecided. On Afghanistan, respondents were equally divided at 46 percent on Australian involvement, with 8 percent undecided. The survey comes as Australia's involvement in Iraq looms as an election issue with the opposition Labor Party promising to withdraw troops if it wins this year's election.