View of US's global role 'worse'

[DoYouEverWonder]

23 January 2007

The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests.

The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington has dealt with Iraq.

The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the way five other foreign policy areas have been handled.

The poll, released ahead of President Bush's State of the Union speech, was conducted between November and January.

The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6286755.stm


Heck of a job, Georgie, heck of a job.

[Pharaoh]

1. Yup

Everything boy george touches turns to shit,

kinda like a reverse king midas touch:hurts:

[Eugene]

2. Related article: 'Listen more' is world's message to US (BBC)

Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 January 2007, 00:47 GMT

'Listen more' is world's message to US

A new BBC international opinion poll reveals widespread disquiet
about the United States' role in Iraq and its other foreign policy
priorities. The BBC's Jonathan Marcus analyses the results.

-snip-

The global image of the US has significantly deteriorated over the
past 12 months, as the chaos in Iraq has deepened. And in 18 of the
countries that were involved in previous polls, the slide in America's
standing has steepened.

-snip-

This poll underscores conclusions drawn from several other surveys -
that anti-Americanism is on the rise, and the more the US flexes its
hard power - the more it deploys troops abroad or talks tough
diplomatically - the more it seems to weaken its ability to influence
the world.

-snip-

Comparable surveys suggest that there is still strong support around
the world for the values enshrined in US society. But it looks as though
America itself is seen to be living up to those values less and less.

As a result, America's soft power - its ability to influence people in
other countries by the force of example and by the perceived legitimacy
of its policies - is weakening.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6288933.stm

The news isn't all bad. Kenya, Nigeria, and the Philippines still like us.

[hogwyld]

3. I'm not so sure the Philippines like us anymore

after our troops raped a 22 y.o woman last year.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/05/EDG8VGGVPH1.DTL

[cliss]

4. The hidden, unbelievable costs of being hated.

In the PNAC documents, the Aggressive policy makers said, "the days of diplomacy are over". We are going to rule the world. Case closed.

They got their way.

And the end result is what we're looking at today.
Now, check out some photos of the U.S. Embassy in Amman Jordan. It looks like a fortress in a war zone. Which it is.
Now look at all the other American Embassies around the world. Know what they all have in common? They are all under siege, in every country. Think about all the security people that have to be hired. All the Barbed Wire, the security cameras, the screening, the suspicion, the pure paranoia and fear. Constantly. Each and every day the embassy workers wonder if it's going to be their last.

Worth it, PNAC'ers?

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. When you prime motivation is fear that the whole world hates you

eventually it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and the whole world will hate you.

[llmart]

6. Hey, what happened to.......

all that good will generated after Sept. 11th? Oh, yeah, that's right. Little Lord Pissypants made sure it disappeared.

Worst President Ever (and he wasn't even elected by the people)

[CJCRANE]

7. C'mon, even Barney's figured this out by now n/t