According to an ICM survey has been carried out by the Guardian in Britain and leading newspapers in Israel (Haaretz), Canada (La Presse and Toronto Star) and Mexico (Reforma), using professional local opinion polling in each country: George W. Bush is enemy #2 to world peace and security.
Bush is ranked with some of his bitterest enemies as a cause of global anxiety. He is outranked by Osama bin Laden in all four countries, but runs the al-Qaida leader close in the eyes of UK voters: 87% think the al-Qaida leader is a great or moderate danger to peace, compared with 75% who think this of Bush.
Some of the findings:
- The US leader and close ally of Tony Blair is seen in Britain as a more dangerous man than the president of Iran (62% think he is a danger), the North Korean leader (69%) and the leader of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah (65%).
- In Britain, 69% of those questioned say they believe US policy has made the world less safe since 2001, with only 7% thinking action in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased global security.
- In our immediate northern and southern neighbours, Canada and Mexico, with 62% of Canadians and 57% of Mexicans saying the world has become more dangerous because of US policy.
- Even in Israel, which has long looked to America to guarantee national security, support for the US has slipped. Only one in four Israeli voters say that Bush has made the world safer, outweighed by the number who think he has added to the risk of international conflict, 36% to 25%. A further 30% say that at best he has made no difference.
- Voters in three of the four countries surveyed also overwhelmingly reject the decision to invade Iraq, with only Israeli voters in favour, 59% to 34% against. Opinion against the war has hardened strongly since a similar survey before the US presidential election in 2004.
- In Britain 71% of voters now say the invasion was unjustified, a view shared by 89% of Mexicans and 73% of Canadians. Canada is a Nato member whose troops are in action in Afghanistan.
- Neither do voters think America has helped advance democracy in developing countries, one of the justifications for deposing Saddam Hussein. Only 11% of Britons and 28% of Israelis think that has happened.
But forgetta'bout dem! Let's do it for ourselves. Let's get that Progressive vote out!
It's hard to find anything written about Bush that makes you feel good, but the polls certainly do.
ReplyDeleteI just read an article on this, thought about posting it on my blog, and then I surfed into your place! Kudos!
ReplyDeleteThis needs to be seen by everyone. It's not just "Democrats" who despise Bush and his failed policies -- he's loathed around the world.
God, 2008 can't come fast enough.
Running into the region like a bull in a china shop Bush has torn apart social and political pillars that while oppressive had kept a lid on ethic and religious violence. By promoting democracy in several Arab countries more ant-American religious parties have gained some power in those governmets. Iraq, in my view, will more than likely fracture causing more conflicts and chaos. The Turks and the Kurds for example. With our addiction to oil from that region any disruption due to increacing violience, or even worse a regional war, could hurt our economy beyond measure. Even to the point it could pull us back into the region once we left. Bush's legacy could well be a nightmare lasting many years down the road.
ReplyDeleteI find this so painful to talk or even contemplate.
ReplyDeleteThere was so much promise for great initiatives to eminate from America in the light that there was no need anymore to spend so much national energy to contain the Soviet Empire.
Peace dividents that were to be wisely used to better the human condition, not just there in the U.S.A. but also globally, did not materialize. Why this didn't take place, and exactly opposite could be reasonably claimed, is tragic, and such an historical opportunity might never present itself for the U.S. again? Isn't it also tragic, that such a promising and golden chance was wasted on the all time most inept(?) leader?
Despite, the depressing numbers in these polls, we should realize that they seem to reflect the opinions of the citizen's in the countries where America is considered with the least hostility. If one asks the Scandinavians, the French, the Germans, the third world generally or, heaven forbid, the Muslim countries, number one and two spots would change places in a hurry.
This damage, which is still unfortunately in it's ruinous progress as we speak, just might take longer than a few years to repair. The action that this wild bunch of the neocons took is getting expected reaction but the whole extent, I am afraid, nobody really knows. Before the things will get better, they are bound to get worse. God bless America!
Bummer, I liked your comments a lot!
There is more on the horizon I think.
ReplyDeleteThe sights of this group are focusing now on Iran.
If another broader war is started it could turn the whole area into a rolling fireball , that may extend also to S. Asia.
This will of course collapse the world trade mechanism , and also create the greatest starvation ever to occur on Earth.
A reminder that Iowa if a separate entity feeds about one fifth of the worlds population now.
That will no longer happen with the collapse of the oil flow.
How will Bush`s legacy go.? Most has not been written yet.
This group of crazies still has a couple of years , and lots of nukes.
They may try a preemptive nuke strike on Iran.
How that would turn out is anyone's guess , but the Iranians now have multiple delivery long range missiles ,and lots of plutonium.
The Iranians are in the preparatory stage of getting ready to destroy Israel because of their Ju Ju , Voodoo religion and the Israelis are making plans on destroying Iran because of their Ju Ju Voodoo religion.
We in the person of the Neo cons and others , the Bush`s and born agains are opting for Israel.
How does this end.?
Perhaps some really loud explosions are coming.
Bush will lead the charge unless he is stopped.
Who can stop Bush.?
Perhaps the military in the same fashion that elements of the Nazi military attempted to stop Hitler some time before the war was over.
If they had succeeded in stopping Hitler a more creative approach to the world may have started , minus millions of deaths of innocent people.
I don`t think people are realizing right now the huge chain of events that are conspiring for more murder and mayhem from Bush , and his groups in the Middle East and elsewhere.
If a political solution is possible that would be an immediate impeachment, but I am guessing things will get out of control , and events will find themselves differently played out.
Fasten your safety belts~~!!!~~!!~~!
Skip, Although the Iran Freedom Support Act does not contain explicit authority for going to war with Iran, it contains language that could serve as a kind of on-the-shelf Gulf of Tonkin Resolution for later convenience. Apparently, Congress must believe that we have the ability to wage a new war of choice even while Iraq is straining our military and pocketbook to the limit.
ReplyDeleteIte , yes I see danger looming. It would be a nuke affair if Iran , Israel , and the U.S. , and who knows who else get tangled up.
ReplyDeleteThat leads to a very different world and it also leads to the U.S. being a very small frog in a big puddle of shit.
The funny thing is , they want to do it for a lot of reasons , none good.
Bush could pose a global danger of huge proportion as to loss of life in the short term.
He is a religious nut, and may think god is directing the maps to be redrawn.
Will Bush finish his term.?