Australians' Trust In Ally United States Slumps... (to a 30-year low)

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

CANBERRA, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The Iraq war has knocked Australians' approval of U.S. leadership in world affairs to a 30-year low, while a Chinese charm offensive appears to be making friends "Down Under", according to a survey released on Wednesday. Adding to pre-election pressure on the government's staunch backing for the Iraq war, a study of attitudes towards the United States found that 60 percent of those surveyed do not believe Washington can deal responsibly with global problems.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who tried to bolster Prime Minister John Howard's flagging re-election hopes at a Sydney meeting last month, was the focus of disapproval, drawing a negative response from two-thirds of respondents.

"President Bush has a serious image problem in Australia," said the survey by the U.S. Studies Centre at Sydney University.

Howard is well behind opposition Labor leader Kevin Rudd in polls ahead of a national election expected within weeks, with government support for the Iraq war a major issue. Rudd has promised to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq.

Australia has 1,500 soldiers in and around Iraq.

The survey found that 64 percent of people opposed Australia's involvement in the Iraq war and 48 percent wanted foreign policy unwound from U.S. interests.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD8261.htm

[rodeodance]

1. Hey Aussie land----you RE-elected Howie -----not all our fault!

[anakie]

3. But America has elected Bush twice

selected or elected, I'll take Howard over Bush any day.


Peace

[Swagman]

4. OK OK !..don't rub it in !..but we are about to correct that mistake

and boot the bastard out of government and his own seat !

## actually he didn't get the popular vote in one election..got in with 49 % (does that sound familiar ?)

We are of course, expecting you to do your bit next year.

[muntrv]

2. Chimpy stumping for howie, how precious!! Is Howard ordering Diebold

machines for election day?