In Australia, the country’s former defense chief has acknowledged that the Iraq war has increased the threat of Islamic militancy around the world. Peter Cosgrove’s comments came one day after Britain’s army chief made similar statements. Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the British staff, said on Thursday that the presence of British troops in Iraq exacerbates the security problem and that they should get out some time soon. He went on to warn that the Iraq war could break the British army. Dannatt has come under intense criticism from Tony Blair’s government as well as the Bush administration, but public opinion polls show he has the support of the British people. One poll found 74 percent of respondents believed Britain should pull out of Iraq sometime soon.