View of US's global role 'worse' - BBC world poll

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6286755.stm


View of US's global role 'worse'

The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests.

The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington has dealt with Iraq. The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the way five other foreign policy areas have been handled. The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years.

Mid-East role

Respondents were also asked about the Bush administration's handling of six areas of foreign policy:

* The war in Iraq: an average of 73% of respondents disapproved (57% in the US). Disapproval was strongest in Argentina and France, while people in Nigeria, Kenya and the Philippines were more likely to approve.

* Detainees in Guantanamo: 67% disapproved (50% in the US). Backing for America on this issue was highest in Nigeria, where 49% approved.

* Israeli-Hezbollah war: Washington's role met with approval from respondents in Nigeria and Philippines, but on average 65% disapproved across the 25 countries (50% in the US).

* Iran's nuclear programme: again, support for US actions appeared strongest in Kenya (62%), Nigeria (53%) and the Philippines (52%). But, overall 60% of respondents disapproved (50% in the US).

* Global warming: more than 80% of respondents in Argentina, France and Germany disapproved compared to 56% overall (54% in the US). But the White House had 50% or more support among those polled in Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines and South Korea.

* North Korea's nuclear programme: opposition to US policy was strongest among respondents in Argentina and Brazil. On average across the 25 countries 54% disapproved (43% in the US).

When asked about US military presence in the Middle East, an average of 68% of respondents across the 25 countries answered that it "provokes more conflict than it prevents".

[upi402]

1. travel outside the US and you find people HATE 'mericuh

they are nice to us, but it seems just polite now. not open anymore. even some have open hostility when they find we're Americans.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. So, Bush has been really good for this country....not!

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. The US has lost Poland!

Along with other countries that were moderate supporters. From the detailed report:

Some of the sharpest drops in positive ratings over the last year came from four countries that have tended to be quite positive about the United States. Poland’s positive ratings dropped 24 points from 62 percent a year ago to 38 percent. The Philippines dropped 13 points from a very high 85 percent to a still-high 72 percent. India fell from 44 percent to 30 percent. Indonesia plunged 19 points—40 percent to 21 percent positive—perhaps due to the waning of the positive effect of the American aid to Indonesian tsunami victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_01_07_us_poll.pdf

The weird thing is that it's countries that have suffered from imperialism that approve of the US's handling of Iraq: figure for 'strongly' or 'somewhat approve' are India (44%), Kenya (59%), Nigeria (57%), Philippines (55%); USA 41%; then the next highest is just 23% (the lowest is Argentina, at 3%!). The only country with a heavy 20th century colonial past that sits among the 'strongly disapproving' countries is Indonesia (overwhelmingly Muslim, so not that surprising, though that does make the relative approval in Nigeria a surprise, given it's about 50% Muslim).

(Argentina's disapproval of US government policy is quite comically strong, especially on specifics:

Views of the US in Argentina have continued to be very negative over the past several years, and positive views have slightly declined. A significant majority (64%) of Argentineans sees US influence in the world as mainly negative, while just 13 percent see it is as mainly positive (down from 19% in 2006). Overwhelming majorities disapprove of the US handling of the war in Iraq (92%), the Israel-Hezbollah conflict (85%), and Iran’s nuclear program (85%). Argentineans also strongly criticize the US on global warming (78%), US treatment of detainees at Guantanamo (78% disapprove), and the North Korean nuclear situation (78%). A very large majority views the US military presence in the Middle East unfavourably, with 86 percent saying it provokes more conflict than it prevents.