Govt under pressure to withdraw troops

The federal government will face increasing pressure to withdraw troops from
Afghanistan after three commandos were killed in a helicopter crash.
The heavy death toll comes just a fortnight after the death of two soldiers in a
roadside bomb blast.
Australians are growing increasingly frustrated with the war in Afghanistan, which
has claimed the lives of 16 diggers over the past nine years.
A poll by Essential Research, coincidentally released on the same day as the
tragedy, shows nearly two-thirds of people want the government to withdraw troops
from Afghanistan.
Only one in four believe the commitment should stay at its current level - a force
of around 1550 mainly based in Oruzgan province.
And only seven per cent - split equally between Labor and coalition voters - think
the number of troops should be increased.
Demand for a withdrawal is relatively evenly split between the two sides of politics
- 61 per cent are Labor voters and 55 per cent support the coalition.
But they are unlikely to find satisfaction from either side as their views are out
of step with both Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
The government remains committed to the war, and Mr Abbott has flagged an increase
in troop numbers if the coalition were to win the next election.
"We know our mission in Afghanistan is hard, but this mission is critical for our
common security," Mr Rudd told parliament.
"We work alongside our allies from the United States and from other NATO countries
to avoid Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorists who can
then strike at innocent Australians both at home and abroad."
The war is certain to be on the agenda when Mr Rudd meets United States President
Barack Obama at the G20 meeting in Toronto next weekend.
Following the tragedy, Defence Minister John Faulkner will delay a statement to
parliament on Australia's progress in Afghanistan, which he had planned to make
Tuesday.