Australians in Iraq 2003: Political debate at home

• War in Iraq
• Political debate at home
• The RAN in the Persian Gulf
• RAN clearance divers
• The SAS in Iraq
• Special forces group
• The RAAF in Iraq
• Australians in Baghdad
• Current situation
• Official war artists

Political debate at home

In Australia, as elsewhere, there was vigorous debate over the rights and wrongs of going to war with Iraq. Both sides presented serious arguments. Those opposed to invading Iraq reminded people of the human suffering which war inevitably brings, and highlighted the United Nations’ opposition to using force against Iraq. Proponents of the war argued that its costs would be outweighed by the benefits of removing Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime, while also raising the fear that Iraq might still have weapons of mass destruction.

Although divided on the morality of the war, Australians joined together in wishing the departing troops a safe return home.