March 19, 2003
SURE, IT'LL HELP...DON'T DO IT:
America's Image Further Erodes, Europeans Want Weaker Ties: But Post-War Iraq Will Be Better Off, Most Say (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, March 18, 2003)Anti-war sentiment and disapproval of President Bush's international policies continue to erode America's image among the publics of its allies. U.S. favorability ratings have plummeted in the past six months in countries actively opposing war--France, Germany and Russia--as well as in countries that are part of the "coalition of the willing." In Great Britain, favorable views of the U.S. have declined from 75% to 48% since mid-2002.In Poland, positive views of the U.S. have fallen to 50% from nearly 80% six months ago; in Italy, the proportion of respondents holding favorable views of the United States has declined by half over the same period (from 70% to 34%). In Spain, fewer than one-in-five (14%) have a favorable opinion of the United States. Views of the U.S. in Russia, which had taken a dramatically positive turn after Sept. 11, 2001, are now more negative than they were prior to the terrorist attacks.
Among possible coalition countries, majorities oppose joining the U.S. to take action against Iraq to end Saddam Hussein's rule. Even in Great Britain, a 51% majority opposes war. Among the unwilling allies, there is also virtually no potential support for a U.S.- led military effort.
But ironically, most publics surveyed think that in the long run the Iraqi people will be better off and the Middle East will be more stable if Iraq is disarmed and Hussein is removed from power. More than seven-in-ten of the French (73%) and Germans (71% ) see the Iraqi public benefiting.
Two things stand out: (1) it looks like all we need is another 9-11 and we can be popular again; (2) the bifurcation that has Europeans opposing military action but thinking it will be salutary is not "ironic" it is the point of the matter and the defining difference between them and us. If you don't support something that will improve someone else's life it seems fair to say you have selfish reasons, doesn't it? You must be, perhaps legitimately, afraid that it may adversely affect your life. These numbers are predictable indicators of societies that have turned inwards and whose citizens care naught about anything but themselves. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 19, 2003 8:38 PM
If one reads the accounts and commentaries of the Victorian era one sees the same comments regarding the British from the various European powers. One cannot escape the conclusion that regardless of our policies, it is our position of strength that causes this reaction. One never sees comments regarding about Beligum because Beligum's voice and its ability to influence others so it can be ignored and smugly ignored. This is not the case with Britain nor the US. The vital factor is envy, that others are unwilling to build a military and would prefer to have cremeonial forces; that their economies dominate nothing and can lead in few vital technologies; and that their political vision has been rejcetd by the world. When did the French ever like us? Did the Russians ever like us?
Posted by: Thomas J. Jackson at March 19, 2003 10:26 PMWhat's sad is to see the numbers coming from former Soviet-bloc societies like Poland. Have they forgotten so quickly what it is like not to have freedom?
I would think that if anybody could understand us, it would be the populations of Eastern European nations. Instead, many of them keep electing socialist governments.
Dependence on the state is a tough jones to shake.
Posted by: oj at March 20, 2003 1:36 AM