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The Prime Minister, John Howard, has cleared the way for an announcement on Thursday committing Australia to war in Iraq, if Britain and the United States fail to get backing for a new United Nations resolution. A few lines from the front ... an Australian leading seaman writes home from her camp in Qatar Photo: Kate Geraghty The resolution before the Security Council authorises the use of force, and Britain and the US are likely to call for a vote early on Wednesday, Sydney time. A Thursday announcement by Mr Howard would place Australia in lock-step with the US deadline...

PRIME Minister John Howard will use the Bali terror attack to justify Australian soldiers' deaths in Iraq should war go ahead. Mr Howard will evoke memories of the 88 Australian victims of the Sari Club blast as an example of the deadly risks posed if Iraq aids international terrorists. "We lost 88 Australians in Bali because of a wilful act of international terrorism and we all had to grapple with that," he said yesterday. "I will, amongst other things, be asking the Australian people to bear those circumstances in mind if we become involved in military contact with Iraq." He...