First off let me say that I am of the opinion that OPINION polls do not dictate what "good" policy is. Good policy is not based on public opinion, but on sound principals.
Second, I would like to exerpt some of the polls results and share MY opinion on them:
"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."
This is a poll based on the opinion of the uninformed and predominately UNEDUCATED populations in the Middle East. They also hate Christians too. So frankly, why would anyone give a rats butt what they think? They have been abused and misled/lied to by their Mulahs and Governments for centuries. I doubt if this opinion will EVER change and I really don't care.
"A growing number in Western Europe also think that the United States is overreacting to the threat of terrorism. Only in Great Britain and Russia do large majorities believe that the U.S. is right to be so concerned about 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."
Yes I would think that someone was "exagerating" the threat too if I hadn't experienced the attack on 9-11 which slammed two airliners into the World Trade Center in New York City killing over 3,000 innocent lives and the airliner that was slammed into the Pentagon which is virtually the same as declaring war on the USA.
It's so convenient to have this opinion and sit on the sidelines while America, ONCE again, does the fighting and carries on the fight against those who would like to destroy all that the Western World and Capitalism stands for.
So as far as the "EUROLIBERAL" opnion is concerned, why would I care? Obviously this "opnion" would be REVERSED had it been Paris, London or Berlin that was attacked. I assure you the BIG difference would have been that unlike EUROPE, America would have come to their aid AND stood side-by-side their "allies" in any efforts they would have made to destroy the threat.
Because the terorrists consider "EUROLIBERALS" in their camp, they are saving you for later. I hope it never happens, BUT, unless America is successful in destroying terrorism where it lives, don't get too comfortable that it will not.
"Nevertheless, support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism has increased dramatically among Russians, despite their generally critical opinion of U.S. policies. More than seven-in-ten Russians (73%) currently back the war on terrorism, up from 51% last May. Since the end of the Iraq war, there also have been gains in support for the U.S. anti-terrorism campaign in Turkey (from 22% to 37%) and Morocco (9% to 28%). On the other hand, backing for the war against terrorism has again slipped in France and Germany; only about half of the public in each country favors the U.S.-led effort."
The reason for this is that the Russians, contrary to the EUROLIBERALS", experienced first hand terrorism on a large scale in their country and realized that "fence sitting" is NOT the answer.
Notice also that the poll is rising in Muslim countries as Democracy begins to take hold. I would venture to predict that with TIME, a lot of these Muslim opnion polls will continue to rise when they realize that the pathetic journalism which tries to paint a false picture of the "true" American intentions were nothing more than pathetic lies created to hurt George Bush. Once they see that America is NOT the bad guy and that Osama and the terrorists ARE, they will change their opinion.
"Large majorities in almost every country surveyed think that American and British leaders lied when they claimed, prior to the Iraq war, that Saddam Hussein’s regime had weapons of mass destruction. On balance, people in the United States and Great Britain disagree. Still, about three-in-ten in the U.S. (31%) and four-in-ten in Great Britain (41%) say leaders of the two countries lied to provide a rationale for the war."
This is funny hind-sight considering that the "mainstream" opinion of not only Governments all over the world, but also their intelligence agencies, thought the OPPOSITE before the invasion! This is nothing more than hindsight handwringing brought on by a lack of vision or principals. The fact remains that we ALL thought otherwise before the war, we ALL knew that Iraq HAD WMDs and had used them in their attack of Iran and on their own people, and we all UNIVERSALLY agree that Saddam was a threat to world security, to his neighbors, and his OWN people.
I find it amusing that because ONE item on the long LIST of reasons to go to war should color one's opinion that America, and not Saddam's regime, is somehow the bad guy. So frankly, I don't give a rats BUTT what the "EUROLIBERALS" think about America or our President. They'd be doing us ALL a favor if they just stayed on their fences and shut their BIG mouths and cleaned up their own backyards. How's Bosnia working out?
"The adage that people in other nations may dislike America, but nonetheless want to move there is borne out in Russia, Turkey and Morocco. Roughly half of the respondents in those three countries say people who have moved to the U.S. have a better life."
DUH! This illustrates the absurdity of ANY opnion poll and how serious one should take these as it relates to the making of POLICY.
Carry ON! 