Most popular world leaders among Arabs: Erdogan (20%), Chavez (13%), Ahmadinejad (12%)

[Prometheus Bound]

Iran gains as Arabs' Obama hopes sink
By Jim Lobe
Aug 7, 2010

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When respondents were asked to name the world leader they admired most, Obama's standing was less than 1%. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cited most often (20%), followed by last year's top pick, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (13%), and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (12%).

Erdogan's rapid rise to the top - he was cited by only 4% last year and never mentioned in the 2008 survey - was due to his outspoken denunciation of the 2008-9 Gaza war waged by Israel and the Turkish role in the aid flotilla to Gaza that was intercepted by Israeli commandos at the end of May, Telhami noted.

Much of the disillusionment with Obama appears related to his failure to make progress in achieving a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, according to Telhami, who has conducted eight previous surveys of Arab opinion since 2000.

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Iran appears to have benefited, at least indirectly, from Arab disillusionment with Obama, the poll results suggested. While a majority of respondents (55%) said they believed Tehran's nuclear program was aimed at developing weapons - a charge denied by Iran - nearly four out of five respondents (77%) said the country had the right to pursue the program - a whopping increase of 24% since last year.

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Moreover, a solid majority (57%) of respondents agreed that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, it would lead to a "more positive" outcome in the Middle East region. That was nearly twice the percentage of one year ago (29%). By contrast, only 21% said that it would lead to a "more negative outcome", compared to a plurality of 46% who took that position in 2009.

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In one of the most remarkable findings, only 12% of respondents said they had a favorable view of the United States. That was three percentage points less than in the 2008 survey when Bush was still president. At the same time, however, the survey found a significant drop in those with "very unfavorable" views of the United States - from 64% in 2008 to 47% in the latest poll.

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Asked what two countries posed the greatest threats to them personally, respondents cited Israel (88%) and the US (77%) - exactly the same results as in the 2009 survey. When Bush was still president, 95% of respondents cited Israel; 88% the US. By contrast, Iran was cited by 10% of respondents, down from 13% last year.

MORE: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LH07Ak02.html

[aquart]

1. Do the Arabs like any Arab leaders?

Clearly, Obama has to bomb Israel. I'm sure they'll like him then.

[Prometheus Bound]

2. Not much I guess. Assad, 7%, Mubarak 4%, Saddam Hussein 2%??

Here's the report in more detail. See page 66 for leaders.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM170_100804_arabpublic.html

[aquart]

3. Saddam got 2%? Go dead guy!

Perhaps some people still feel annoyance at our utterly unprovoked invasion?