people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=206
Opinion of the United States in France and Germany is at least as negative now as at the wars conclusion, and British views are decidedly more critical. Perceptions of American unilateralism remain widespread in European and Muslim nations, and the war in Iraq has undermined Americas credibility abroad. Across Europe, there is considerable support for the European Union to become as powerful as the United States. In the predominantly Muslim countries surveyed, anger toward the United States remains pervasive, although the level of hatred has eased somewhat and support for the war on terrorism has inched up. Osama bin Laden, however, is viewed favorably by large percentages in Pakistan (65%), Jordan (55%) and Morocco (45%). Even in Turkey, where bin Laden is highly unpopular, as many as 31% say that suicide attacks against Americans and other Westerners in Iraq are justifiable. Majorities in all four Muslim nations surveyed doubt the sincerity of the war on terrorism. Instead, most say it is an effort to control Mideast oil and to dominate the world. Among the coalition of the unwilling, large majorities in Germany, France and Russia still believe their countries made the right decision in not taking part in the war. In the four predominantly Muslim countries surveyed, opposition to the war remains nearly universal. Moreover, while large majorities in Western European countries opposed to the war say Saddam Husseins ouster will improve the lot of the Iraqi people, those in Muslim countries are less confident. In Jordan, no less than 70% of survey respondents think the Iraqis will be worse off with Hussein gone. It was conducted from late February to early March in the United States and eight other countries, with fieldwork under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. The survey finds a significant point of agreement in opinion on Iraqs future. Overwhelming majorities in all countries surveyed say it will take longer than a year to establish a stable government in Iraq. Majorities in Germany, Turkey and France and half of the British and Russians believe the conflict in Iraq undermined the war on terrorism. A growing number in Western Europe also think that the United States is overreacting to the threat of terrorism. Many people in France (57%) and Germany (49%) have come to agree with the widespread view in the Muslim countries surveyed that the America is exaggerating the terrorist threat. More than seven-in-ten Russians (73%) currently back the war on terrorism, up from 51% last May. On the other hand, backing for the war against terrorism has again slipped in France and Germany; Publics in the surveyed countries other than the United States express considerable skepticism of Americas motives in its global struggle against terrorism. People in Muslim nations who doubt the sincerity of American anti-terror efforts see a wider range of ulterior motives, including helping Israel and targeting unfriendly Muslim governments and groups. On balance, people in the United States and Great Britain disagree. In that regard, opinions of both President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are negative. Blair is rated favorably only by a narrow majority in Great Britain but fully three-quarters of Americans. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is viewed positively in nearly all nine countries surveyed, with Jordan and Morocco as prominent exceptions. The United Nations itself engenders varied reactions around the world. Just 55% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the world body. That idea is much more problematic for Americans, and on this issue Russians and people in Muslim countries are much closer to Americans than they are to Western Europeans. Overwhelming majorities in Jordan and Morocco believe suicide attacks against Americans and other Westerners in Iraq are justifiable. As a point of comparison, slightly more people in those two countries say the same about Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis. About half of Pakistanis also say suicide attacks on Americans in Iraq and against Israelis in the Palestinian conflict are justifiable. Other Findings Despite concerns about rising anti-Semitism in Europe, there are no indications that anti-Jewish sentiment has increased over the past decade. Favorable ratings of Jews are actually higher now in France, Germany and Russia than they were in 1991. As is the case with Americans, Europeans hold much more negative views of Muslims than of Jews. The survey finds, however, that Christians get much lower ratings in predominantly Muslim countries than do Muslims in mostly Christian countries. Majorities in Morocco (73%), Pakistan (62%) and Turkey (52%) express negative views of Christians.
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