We'll help, but um...ah...

摘要

The war of words between bits of Europe and America, and of Europe with itself, has become so all-involving that farther-flung interested parties are often forgotten. Yet America has other allies in this debate who are struggling to decide what best to do. We consider the chief three, Australia, Canada and Japan: none of which, as it happens, has a seat on the UN Security Council. So far, Australia is the only significant country, besides Britain, to have sent forces to the Gulf in support of a possible American attack. In a place so far away from Iraq, with a small defence force already stretched by regional commitments, the deployment has caused great controversy. A recent poll showed 60% of Australians opposed to sending their troops, with only 35% in favour; 76% were against Australian involvement in an attack on Iraq without United Nations approval; and a less-than-overwhelming 57% supported a strike sanctioned by a second resolution.