Bush Has Unlikely Supporters -- Some Foreign Nations Root for the Incumbent -- And the Status Quo

Many governments and populations around the globe are rooting for Sen. John Kerry in tomorrow's U.S. presidential election. Less noticed is that for reasons of trade, shared views of the war on terrorism and sheer realpolitik, President Bush has some big and unlikely names in his corner, too.

In Russia, Japan and Iran, Mr. Bush has received barely veiled government support for his re-election campaign -- a breach of the usual diplomatic etiquette whereby governments don't comment on other countries' electoral choices. Meanwhile, Chinese, Indian and Mexican leaders are quietly hoping for a Bush win, too, as are Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, officials and analysts say.

Mr. Bush's go-it-alone stance on a range of issues, from the Kyoto protocol on climate change to the invasion of Iraq, as well as a personal style often perceived abroad as macho and overly religious, have made him deeply unpopular among citizens in many countries. An opinion poll of 34,000 people in 35 countries published in September by research company Globescan Inc. found majorities in only three countries favoring a Bush victory: the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland. In India and Thailand, the candidates tied....

Most governments share their populations' hope that a new U.S. leader would be a calming influence on world affairs after the diplomatic tensions, corporate upheavals, terrorist outbreak and wars that have figured prominently in Mr. Bush's tenure. But the exceptions are significant -- and often surprising.

Some overseas Bush supporters are motivated primarily by trade concerns. Despite Mr. Bush's own protectionist measures, such as imposing steel tariffs and agriculture subsidies, many governments see Mr. Kerry as the greater threat to international trade owing to his campaign rhetoric on the need to protect American jobs and on outsourcing.

There's also a couple other little facts why Bush may have some support from places where you might not find it. As much as some of these countries may ideologically oppose Bush, they know Kerry is an internationalist. For all the bitching and moaning about Bush going it alone, these countries know that Kerry wants everyone to share the burden...and for all the whining, these countries secretly enjoy having America pay the costs.

Even on doemstic issues, where Kerry wants to import drugs from Canada, he is finding some resistance. While the rheotirc of cheap drugs from Canada may be appealing to some Americans, it is not to many Canadians...as his program has the potential to create shortages and price increases in Canada. For all the complaints, deep-down, many people are enjoying this status-quo.

A translation of BILD's endorsement of President George W. Bush follows:

1. Bush has clear priorities. He sees the inhuman Islamic fundamentalism and the murderous mullahs as the largest danger for the Western world.

2. Bush has learned the lessons of history. Military strength, not pleasant talk, is the only thing that helps against violent fanatics. And with Bush -- unlike with Kerry -- there is no doubt about this.

3. Under Bush, the US, as a superpower, will continue to bear the financial, military and casualty burden in the fight against terrorism in a "holy war" which Islamic fanatics unilaterally declared.

4. Along with fighting terror and the terrorists, a re-elected Bush will do everything he can to prevent nuclear proliferation. That is especially true with regard to the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea.

5. Bush has learned that America can defeat every country in war, but needs allies in peace. Thus, his second term will be characterized by cooperation with international partners. But he will not depend on how Syria or Libya vote at the UN.

6. Bush knows that Europe and Germany don’t have the military at their disposal to become involved in any further foreign military engagements. Therefore he won't ask them for help. Kerry will do exactly that – and will further burden already damaged German-American relations.

7. Under Bush, America will remain a reliable partner for Israel in its fight for survival. That must especially be in our German interest.

8. Republicans have always been stronger supporters of free trade than Democrats. That is also true of Bush when compared to Kerry. And that is good for Germany as an export nation.

9. Every new American administration makes mistakes. Bush has already made his. Kerry, on the other hand, has of yet held no (executive) position in the government. He would be worse prepared than most Presidents preceding him.

10. With Bush, we know what to expect. With Kerry, nobody knows what he stands for and where he wants to lead America – and the world.

Source: http://medienkritik.typepad.com/blog/2004/10/another_october.html

Ed. Note: BILD has the widest circulation of any newspaper in Europe.

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