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HighlandSniper58
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2 out of 3 Say no to More UK Troops
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The British public is overwhelmingly opposed to the government sending up to 3,000 extra troops to Iraq, according to the results of this month's Guardian/ICM poll.
The survey shows that 66% oppose the idea, including 60% of Labour voters, a finding that will increase the pressure on Tony Blair to scale down the figures or shelve the announcement on extra troops, which is expected to be made in the next few weeks.
Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have insisted that no decision has yet been made on sending reinforcements, despite recent indications from the prime minister's aides that more would be dispatched to help restore order. There has been speculation that an announcement might be delayed until after the June 10 local and European elections.
The ICM findings come at a time when the US public's approval of President Bush's handling of the conflict in Iraq has hit its lowest point, according to a poll posted on the Washington Post website last night.
The poll showed Mr Bush's overall rating had declined to 47%, and attributed virtually all of a seven-point decline in his approval rating to disaffected Republicans.
But Mr Bush said in a speech in Pennsylvania last night that US troops would stay in Iraq "as long as necessary". "If they need more troops, I will send them," he said in an address setting out his strategy for the country after power is transferred on June 30.
On top of opposition to sending more troops, the Guardian/ICM poll also shows that 84% of voters believe that Mr Blair should insist that if any more troops are sent, they must serve under British commanders in British-controlled sectors of Iraq.
That appears to reflect public concern that if British troops were sent they would be extended beyond their current southern base around Basra. It is widely expected that they would be used to replace Spanish troops withdrawn from its base further north.
That would see British forces enter the town of Najaf - scene of some of the fiercest fighting - where there are continuing clashes between American forces and the militia of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Details of the extra troop deployment are ex pected to be discussed today when the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, meets the Iraqi defence minister, Ali Alawi, and Mr Blair is likely to be pressed on the issue at his monthly press conference today. A further 3,000 troops would increase Britain's military commitment to Iraq by one third in an attempt to restore order before the June 30 handover. British forces already number 9,000.
The past month has also seen growing support in Britain for the withdrawal of British and American troops, with 35% saying they should leave now, an increase of eight points in the last month.
In general, the country remains split over the continuing "occupation" of Iraq. Of all British voters, 45% agree with the proposition that the troops "should remain in Iraq as long as necessary".
The perils of sending thousands more troops were underlined yesterday when two British civilians were killed in a grenade attack on their armoured vehicle in Baghdad.
The Guardian poll does contain some better news on Iraq for Mr Blair.
The ICM survey also shows that the Daily Mirror row over the faked prisoner abuse pictures appears to have damaged the anti-war cause in Britain. Those who say the war was unjustified are down five points in the past month to 43% of the electorate while those who believe the war was justified are up three points to 44%.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,002 adults aged 18 and over by phone from May 20-23. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The British public is overwhelmingly opposed to the government sending up to 3,000 extra troops to Iraq, according to the results of this month's Guardian/ICM poll.
The survey shows that 66% oppose the idea, including 60% of Labour voters, a finding that will increase the pressure on Tony Blair to scale down the figures or shelve the announcement on extra troops, which is expected to be made in the next few weeks.
Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have insisted that no decision has yet been made on sending reinforcements, despite recent indications from the prime minister's aides that more would be dispatched to help restore order. There has been speculation that an announcement might be delayed until after the June 10 local and European elections.
The ICM findings come at a time when the US public's approval of President Bush's handling of the conflict in Iraq has hit its lowest point, according to a poll posted on the Washington Post website last night.
The poll showed Mr Bush's overall rating had declined to 47%, and attributed virtually all of a seven-point decline in his approval rating to disaffected Republicans.
But Mr Bush said in a speech in Pennsylvania last night that US troops would stay in Iraq "as long as necessary". "If they need more troops, I will send them," he said in an address setting out his strategy for the country after power is transferred on June 30.
On top of opposition to sending more troops, the Guardian/ICM poll also shows that 84% of voters believe that Mr Blair should insist that if any more troops are sent, they must serve under British commanders in British-controlled sectors of Iraq.
That appears to reflect public concern that if British troops were sent they would be extended beyond their current southern base around Basra. It is widely expected that they would be used to replace Spanish troops withdrawn from its base further north.
That would see British forces enter the town of Najaf - scene of some of the fiercest fighting - where there are continuing clashes between American forces and the militia of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Details of the extra troop deployment are ex pected to be discussed today when the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, meets the Iraqi defence minister, Ali Alawi, and Mr Blair is likely to be pressed on the issue at his monthly press conference today. A further 3,000 troops would increase Britain's military commitment to Iraq by one third in an attempt to restore order before the June 30 handover. British forces already number 9,000.
The past month has also seen growing support in Britain for the withdrawal of British and American troops, with 35% saying they should leave now, an increase of eight points in the last month.
In general, the country remains split over the continuing "occupation" of Iraq. Of all British voters, 45% agree with the proposition that the troops "should remain in Iraq as long as necessary".
The perils of sending thousands more troops were underlined yesterday when two British civilians were killed in a grenade attack on their armoured vehicle in Baghdad.
The Guardian poll does contain some better news on Iraq for Mr Blair.
The ICM survey also shows that the Daily Mirror row over the faked prisoner abuse pictures appears to have damaged the anti-war cause in Britain. Those who say the war was unjustified are down five points in the past month to 43% of the electorate while those who believe the war was justified are up three points to 44%.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,002 adults aged 18 and over by phone from May 20-23. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
