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'Fading goodwill'
The latest survey shows the worldwide reputation of the US continues to suffer over its prosecution of the "war on terror".
Sharp declines in the public perception of the US were particularly apparent in India, Spain and Turkey.
Goodwill towards the US had fallen from 71% to 56% in India, from 41% to 23% in Spain and from 23% to 12% in Turkey.
A majority of people in 10 of the 14 countries outside the US surveyed said the war in Iraq had made the world a more dangerous place.
Some 60% of people in the UK, which is the US biggest ally, felt the Iraq war had made the world less secure, while 30% said it had made the world safer.
According to the survey:
Worldwide support for the "war on terror" has remained the same or declined
European confidence in Mr Bush has sunk even lower than it was last year
A majority of people in most countries feel the US will not achieve its goals in the "war on terror"
The survey also found little remaining evidence of the goodwill the US had earned over its aid for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
In Indonesia, a major recipient of US tsunami aid, favourable opinions of the US had fallen from 38% in 2005 to 30% this year.
"Last year we saw some good news in countries like Russia and India," Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Centre, told the Associated Press news agency.
"That good news being wiped away is a measure of how difficult a problem this is for the United States."
Between 1945 and 1991, Washington’s gigantic power coupled with immense naivety made the world a much more dangerous place than it need have been.
What’s more, it’s still doing so. In the Cold War’s successor, today’s so-called ‘war on terror’, only the enemy has changed. America’s skewed approach to international affairs remains the same.
History repeats itself. Just as the U.S. concocted the fantasy threat of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction in 2003, so at the end of World War II it conjured up and exaggerated the menace of a rampant Soviet Union set on world domination.
The arms race speeded up; spending on the military soared relentlessly. Dr Strangelove ruled.
Foreign policy and the art of diplomacy and compromise were reduced to the simple issue of military preparedness.
Meanwhile, any event in whatever part of the world — Greece, Italy, Berlin, Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, the Middle East, Israel — took on a confrontational East-West dimension. In any international issue, no matter what the subtleties, all that mattered was where Moscow and Washington stood. Invariably, they took opposite sides.
From what they perceived as their moral high ground, free-thinking Americans howled at the Russians for being enslaved to communist ideology, ignoring the fact that their own belief systems were equally questionable.
In Andrew Alexander’s words, a ‘messianic mission’ developed that all countries should be remade in America’s image — despite the demonstrable fact that democracy is not a universally saleable commodity in all parts of the world, let alone a global cure-all.
At the heart of the problem was — and is — America’s deep-seated ignorance about the cultures of the countries it wants to change. The average American takes little real interest in the outside world.
Originally posted by OmegaLogos
Personal Disclosure: Which is leading to ...
U.S. Declares Cold War With China (by predator0187 posted on 28-11-2011 @ 08:14 PM) [ATS]
Originally posted by SLAYER69
Posted on 7-2-2010 @ 02:24 AM
MORE than half of Chinese people questioned in a poll believe China and America are heading for a new “cold war”.
The finding came after battles over Taiwan, Tibet, trade, climate change, internet freedom and human rights which have poisoned relations in the three months since President Barack Obama made a fruitless visit to Beijing.
Originally posted by isthisreallife
China cannot afford a world war any more than the United State can.
Originally posted by lonewolf19792000
Pft. China gives Pakistan head because they are afraid Pakistan will have it's islamic extremist militants target China with their nukes, and as long as the extremists are busy with the U.S. and europe and everyone else they will leave China for last.
Originally posted by SloAnPainful
Originally posted by princeofpeace
No different than the US telling China: "Chinese threat to Taiwan is threat to US". Big deal.
Yeah...Except Taiwan was, at one time, a Chinese state.
But doesnt mind bullying beyond its own territorial waters aka Spratley islands
Originally posted by LiteraryOneTwo
reply to post by smarterthanyou
Since China appears to have America by the economic ties I don't see this as a serious matter. China uses U S A as means of economic survival so why be concerned? Only true indication of future problems lies in Obama seeking military base in Australia. China appears to dislike that invasion of China seas. Stay alert is best policy.
Originally posted by DragonTattooz
www.globalfirepower.com...
First, I am an isolationist, so for me this is just an intellectual excercise as I have no desire to be at war with anybody. With that said, look at the link I provided. The US military has nothing to fear from China or Russia, or both for that matter. Our Navy and Air Force could very handily take car of both of them. I know, I know, all you China leghumpers will scream "Foul", but just look at the numbers. Our military so far outclasses either of theirs that it almost isn't fair...almost. That is what happens when you pump hundreds of billions of dollars into defense spending.