POLITICS: Global Poll: Planet More Dangerous With Bush Re-Election

A global poll done by the Program on International Policy Studies has some very bad news for President Bush. In only three of the 21 countries polled people think the world is safer with his re-election. Across the board 58% say that the President makes the world more dangerous. Overall 16 of 21 countries hold this belief as well. What's worse for the President is traditional allies such as Canada, Britan, Italy, and Germany view him unfavorably. No nations that have troops in Iraq support having their troops there.



I'm sure anyone that's been around ATS for longer than a couple minutes aren't suprised about this! Seeing the hard numbers is probably an eye opener to some. President Bush definitely has some work cut out for him if he wants to regain some credibility on the world's stage.

Personally, I don't think many that have an unfavorable opinion of him now could have a favorable opinion of him - no matter what happens.






[edit on (1/21/0505 by PistolPete]

Pistol, there you have it. What more proof do you want? The general concensus is that this government is dangerous, and its not just limited to a few liberals ranting away just to be contrary and anti=government.

I hate to break it to you guys, but this poll is pretty meaningless.

1) Many of the countries in this poll have uniformly socialist/communist media... or media that is otherwise controlled by the local government.

2)Reagan was viewed as dangerous in the 1980s. Today many Eastern Europeans admire him as a man who helped liberate them.

3)The opinion of the US population is what matters. Many of the nations in this poll are competitors of the US. To be frank, you could spin this poll to show that Bush was doing a good job... after all, no one wants their competition to be led well. The results of this poll do not reflect on the objective performance of Bush... they reflect on the fact that many people around the world know that America will remain untouchable and supreme under Bush.

4)Many of the people who took this poll would probably be happier with a weak american president. It would be easier to defeat the US with someone other than Bush as president, after all.

Is that directed at me or just a general statement?

I need no proof - I think most governments in this world are dangerous. Like I've said before, I think for the most part they're all working for the same people (and that's just my crazy tin-foil hat opinion ). I just don't get worked up about what Presidents and politicians do any more because I've seen and understood what's happening for long enough to be accustomed to it.

What I do think is dangerous is the "cult of hate" being developed towards the guy. This cult ignores all things that don't fit with the idea that the Bush administration is *solely* the source of all evil in the world. Such as terror legislation that's just as bad in many instances as the Patriot ACT. People in other nations know the Patriot ACT is evil - but are quite unaware of the laws that actually effect them. In America there's the draft - a bill introduced and supported by Democrats which as we all know is the Republican President's doing. Several other instances can be cited.

It's the divide and conquer technique on a global scale. American's have "terrorists" as boogeymen. People from other nations have "Americans" as boogeymen. And just to emphasize the fact that media outlets in other nations use propaganda to influence opinions about America look no further than the sterotypes pushed in the lower BBC graphic. McDonalds and a cowboy being used to represent American influence....how many times have we seen those used as "insults" towards America?

For the record again, in most cases I don't support the guy. I didn't vote for him, I voted for Badnarik. I just think some of you sound silly and/or dangerously off base.

Well, I think that it is good for some to know that for the enemies of the US that the world is a very dangerous place--a very deadly place. Some of these people can be considered to be hysterics who are frightened by almost anything they find unfamiliar or even marginally powerful.

[edit on 05/1/19 by GradyPhilpott]

I'm going to have to side with onlyinmydreams regarding the poll. I distrust their accuracy and view them as an easily construed, "biased" fact. Also, much of the world is at least skeptical of the U.S. if not convinced of their dangerous nature, much less Bush.

But overall, Pistolpete is right, especially regarding how unawares many Americans are regarding the laws and how their lives are affected. Sadly, this will probably not change, especially with Bush in office.

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott
Well, I think that it is good for some to know that for the enemies of the US that the world is a very dangerous place--a very deadly place. Some of these people can be considered to be hysterics who are frightened by almost anything they find unfamiliar or even marginally powerful.

What's worse for the President is traditional allies such as Canada, Britan, Italy, and Germany view him unfavorably.

Well it seems the traditional allies are the ones who think worse of him then the traditional enemies. However i would attribute this to the fact that these countries have had freedom of speech/press for longer and more time to bitch about things because of their high levels of wealth and good living conditions.



[edit on 19-1-2005 by Trent]

The Russian numbers seem strange. This poll conducted before the election says that they would prefer Bush over Kerry:

Poll Shows 8 Out of 10 Countries Back Kerry

The world would much prefer John Kerry to be the next president of the United States according to a survey published by 10 of the world's major newspapers.
...
Results showed that voters in eight out of the 10 countries, excluding Israel and Russia, wanted to see Democratic challenger Kerry beat the Republican Bush in the Nov. 2 presidential election.

Lets start by saying i KNOW im gonna take a lot of flack for this one but
TOO BAD....

I too am concerned about America.

Its about darn time that you stopped taking American generosity, and generally peaceful ways for granted and realize that IF America wants to get something done, we have the capasity to make it so.

Personally Im glad that now a days, spitting on America, its citizens and interests is something that is being thought about twice before just thinking..."America wont really DO anything about it".

American apathy had allowed a climate to fester where it became fashionable to "attack" the USA in some way or another.
The question of how much Americans were going to tolorate this attitude and actions against us before we defended ourselves both physically and culturally is being answered now....its no wonder that many fear this turn of events...the sleeping dragon has awakened and its not happy.

Yet should America take the blame for this soley?
How many countries is McDonalds in now?
How many American TV shows are seen worldwide and LOVED?
How many places and ways is American culture not only craved but emulated?
Why do thousands try to illegally come here to live each year?
Surely there arent this many Americans abroad to be able to spread this cultural influance as deep as it is?

In other words, if your not happy with American culture spreading to your area of the world,
STOP PAYING FOR IT...stop buying our programs, franchizes, stop trying to emulate our fashions, trends, etc.
Make your own culture something!!!

As far as foriegn policy goes...lets look to OSAMA as an example,
Prior to 9-11 he was calling for jihayd against us for "occupying muslim holy lands"
Hmm, while we certantly were doing business in muslim areas, and have powerful influence in some areas,
just look at us now....actually occupying parts of afganistan and all of Iraq....instead of Osama's rhetoric that we were there all along.
WHY?
Because someone with a cause against us gave us the excuse we needed to come and REALLY occupy some muslim lands.
If we werent there before in more than spirit (a part of the world economics), we certantly are there now...happy? Was it worth it to tell all your followers we were satan and provoke us into actually DOING something, instead of sitting back like we did for the past 30 yrs (in our little bubble) while you blew up our and our allies stuff?
ask and ye shall recieve.

NOW before im branded some kind of flag waving neo-con out for world domination,
America has PLENTY of problems...both internally and with the world community. Being as powerful economically, millitarily and culturally as we are is a blessing and a curse..(some are downright jealous and want what we have)..America could be far worse of a reckless giant than we actually are now. With great powers come great responsabillity, and we're only human (our leaders too) so we're bound to make mistakes.
But
American leaders are there to protect USA interests FIRST, before other nations...that is their JOB!!!...This takes both diplomacy, and muscle.
Where that balance is, is certantly debatable. I dont wish that America has conflicts with any other upstanding nations of the world community,
BUT
Thinking its ok to just kick America, the nation, its citizens, our culture, our business interests, or anything else that makes America what it is; is somehow a good thing to do, is asking for America to turn its heavy attentions to you.

Should the world be affraid? not exactly th term id use, more like concerned....America has extended the hand of friendship many times to many peoples...we give much to charity world wide, we've shed our blood in the defence of others liberty (France, s. Korea, Kosovo, now Iraq), We have helped former enemies like Germany and Japan become prosperous members of the world community, much like we now wish to help Russia...and China...weve shared our knowlege and promoted diversity and respect for nations and life,

and we've had about enough of threats, lawlessness, and disreguard and disrespect for America.

Id be concerned too if that former friend was now wanting something back for its decades of world assistance. Some of those debts (literally and figurativly) are high value stakes. Of some we will ask for support (politically) Some we will ask for assistance (millitarily/alliance), some we will ask for accomodation (trade/honorable treaties/agreeing to peacably disagree yet continue to further relations)

But for some we will demand compliance (IRAQ/UN resolutions), and accountabillity (IRAN/N. Korea/Syria), we will expect that basic human rights are being worked twords by certain nations.

This is a hard lesson for many Americans to yet learn, that the threat to us is NOT just bombs from another country, but active efforts to undermine our nation ideologically, culturally, economically....more than just WMD's.

The world should no longer expect the USA to sit by and hope these things will work themselves out...
If that worries you, then i ask, what do you have to hide/fear?

Tell us WHY you look down on us, in constructive ways that we can understand, and we shall hear you...and consider how we can all better things...
But do not think we will just let you walk on us without reprocussions, or sell out to you because it is the easier thing than to stand and oppose you.

Originally posted by CazMedia
Tell us WHY you look down on us, in constructive ways that we can understand, and we shall hear you...and consider how we can all better things...
But do not think we will just let you walk on us without reprocussions, or sell out to you because it is the easier thing than to stand and oppose you.

You sound as if this hatred is only going one way. Is it not true American public opinion for many other countries is not good, even allies like France who helped you gain your independence and have never been against you in a conflict as far as i know. They like the US are only doing what is in their best interests so why do you think it's ok for the US to do this but not for others... both sides are at fault if they hate the other just for doing this because no country has the right to tell another country what to do. I understand that the US won't let the world walk on you with repercussions (although i fail to see how this is happening in any way, unless citizen of these countries are not allowed to dislike the US prez and this amounts to "walking on you") but don't think for a second that any other country in the world will not do likewise if the US tries to walk on them or their beliefs.

[edit on 19-1-2005 by Trent]

Originally posted by Trent
...allies like France who helped you gain your independence and have never been against you in a conflict as far as i know.

France only helped the American Revolution because it thought it would hurt Britain. The U.S.- French relationship has always been rocky. They made war against us when we were still British colonies in the French and Indian War, we were almost at war with them during the XYZ affair, they supported the CSA during the U.S. civil war and Napoleon almost went to war with us to get the Louisiana territory back after we had bought it from France.

In other words, the psyop guys are earning their pay.

Fear us. Boo!

Gotta love people who believe whatever is shoved down their throats by commercial propaganda mills -- controlled by the people you think you are opposing but unwittingly supporting.

The world is always dangerous. That's not news. I would love to see a poll taken in Europe oh, about sixty years ago.

Or how about when the Soviets were rolling tanks through what are now EU states? What a crock this sort of article is. It's just plain pathetic.

What the hell was the point of the past ten thousand years if they can be forgotten in four?

Gimme a freakin break. This is just a focus group for brain-scramblers.

Jedi mind tricks only work on the feebleminded, and apparently they are abundant, if this article is any guide.

The real news doesn't get reported.


[edit on 1/19/2005 by Majic]

Right Majic, your post reminds me of this:

"From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than feared. I reply that one should like to be both one and the other; but since it is difficult to join them together, it is much safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking."
– Niccolo Machiavelli in his book The Prince

www.rightwingnews.com...

[edit on 1/19/2005 by djohnsto77]

Originally posted by djohnsto77

Originally posted by Trent
...allies like France who helped you gain your independence and have never been against you in a conflict as far as i know.

France only helped the American Revolution because it thought it would hurt Britain.

It could also be argued that the US only entered WW2 because they were attacked. Anyway i think it's not correct for Americans to think that the world owes them anything as is often suggested any more than the US owes the world anything because it's also likely that without the rest of the world's help the axis would have won WW2. I really think we should get away from all this crap where one side thinks it actions are justified but when the other does the same and looks after it's own interests (with actions within reason e.g. France not helping the US in Iraq) it's condemned. Both America and the rest of the world are guilty of doing this, largely because of patriotism and people always believing their country is right and the others are wrong (WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF THIS... to an extent and i want to make sure you don't think I'm singling out the US). To the extreme such beliefs can and have started world wars.

As for France opposing the US in the UN it could also be seen by others that the US was opposing France and indeed the world body itself because it takes at least two to start an argument (both sides thinking they are righteous no doubt). You have to remember that the rest of the world does not see the US as always being right, nor should they because if they did they wouldn't really be free or soverign nations. I think such disagreements are healthy as long as they don't manifest into hatred and start wars, i strongly believe they will not at this point in time or the near future.



[edit on 19-1-2005 by Trent]

Trent says,

You sound as if this hatred is only going one way.

No it doesnt, but the title of this thread certantly does.

Global Poll: Planet More Dangerous With Bush Re-Election

The exact reason i didnt want Kerry to win....the world needed 4 more years of "Gee, messing with America could spell big trouble" to be floating around in the collective consciousness.

From this Americans perspective, it beats our former message which was "America is weak and wont do anything hard to oppose us." Commonly held by despots and crooks everywhere like Noriega, Milosovich, Ghadafi, Saddam, Osama, Lil Kim j ill, the UN and others that used to think that.

Majic envokes the specter of the unseen and unprovable psyops,

Fear us. Boo!

As a member of the mainstream media you so quickly condem,
I dont see no stinkin psyops/gov officials around here!!!
Have you ever really got to sit in a major newsroom, where EVERYTHING is questioned? where producers drool at the chance to bring down "the man"....ANY man? Where cynicism runs fast and deep and no one is safe from being probed? If there was a spook around here, someone from this diverse and often conflicting opinionated newsroom would have sniffed them out by now.

But ill agree that the world has always been dangerous and some countries have "feared" others for many and different reasons

Again, ill say id rather not be feared by other nations, (cant we all just get along ) but when you look at our recent past of playing the "nice guys" we got abused, and now there IS a serious threat to western style freedoms in the form of fundamentalist muslim extremism. Its not going to go away at this point by doing nothing.

My only thing to say is, world, be on notice, turn the other cheek time is over here in the USA. We're not looking for trouble, but if it comes,
America will deal with it.

PS.....this isnt a French bashing thread, its a bash America one
stick to the topic.... come get some!

The world was set to become a more dangerous place before Bush came into office I think, can't blame it all on him...but, well, I do wish he'd come to grips with reality before he kills us. Sometimes, I wonder if that is just a PR move, convince everyone our country is being run by a bunch of incompetants, and well, when they let their guard down, then bring it on full force. But is been a long wait, and well, still incompetetance. So, I don't know.
I think he's put us in a situation that is far more dangerous than it should be, that's for sure.

[edit on 19-1-2005 by dawnstar]

Who cares what the world thinks about our president? We elected him, not the globe. That's what makes America so great, we just could care less about global opinion. If we were subservient to every country, the we would no longer be the worlds leading superpower.

As far as countries, at least we know that India and the Philippines has our back

You know whats funny? The more polls I see of foreign citizens expressing ther dislike for the president, his policies, the course of my nation, the more sure I am that bush is the right man at the right time. Everytime I hear the french, or the belgians, or the germans, or anyone else in the world say that Bush is bad, that his policies are bad, the more confident I am that we are moving in the right direction.
And I'm not the only one. Mny many Americans feel the exact same way I do. You see the simple fact is europe and the US have very little left in common. In many ways we are polar opposites.
The EU is heavily socialist, Heavily pro censorship, heavily anti gun, heavily anti capatalist (and becomming more and more so everyday) The EU wants to give Iran "peaceful" nuclear tech to bribe them away from weapons tech, they want to lift the embargo on weapons sales to china, favor forced diversty over freedom of thought, and as a result every single time the EU, its representatives or its member states speak out against US policies I become more and more convnced that we are on the right course. After all (and this is a metaphor, I am not implying that the EU is literally satan, just that theier ideas are in almost exact opposition to us in many ways) If statan doesn like what you are doing then obviously you are doing the work of God.

Originally posted by Simulacra
As far as countries, at least we know that India and the Philippines has our back

Yes because if a country criticizes your president they must be your enemy. Who cares if British and Australians are dying in the Iraq war because if some of them don't like your prez they must be your enemies! I would like to think that America judges it's allies on their ACTIONS not because they have the RIGHT as nations that believe in freedom of speech/press/belief to disagree and criticize anyone in the world, yes even your god like president. As for the EU it is my hope that they provide a relatively friendly (since they are all capitialist democracies) counter balance to America and keep you from doing anything you would regret because most experts agree a bi-poplar world is safer for everyone than having a single superpower.

Sorry if i seem a bit over the place on the issue, it's just I'm torn between liking the US which i do, liking Britain and indeed any other country that has the same level of freedoms. While at the same time being a staunch supporter of my home country Australia and not wanting it's role as an independant nation that has throughtout history been a force for freedom which has been inseperatable from our alliance with America to be diminished. At the same time I'm proud of our culture and always defend our right to think whatever the hell we want about anyone we want... I'm not sure if they polled us but it's likely the result would be similar to Britains because even after all these years we still are very similar to them and respect them even if they are crap at sport and are always getting beaten us Except in soccer of course and maybe a few times in rugby union and cricket. I think you would find that my needs and wants are not very different to that of the average American... I have always liked that speech Kennedy once gave about us all sharing the same world, having the same needs and all wanting a safe world for our children ect.



[edit on 19-1-2005 by Trent]

Just a reminder:

Being "anti-Bush" is not being "anti-American." Most people are smart enough to see the difference between a person and a nation. ...Whatever the Bush propaganda tries to say.