Posted on 03/01/2006 10:44:44 PM PST by SpikeMike
OTTAWA -- Canadians are more inclined than people in most other countries to back the continued presence of American-led troops in Iraq, according to a new global survey. And they're likelier to endorse the 2003 decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein as well.
But like people almost everywhere, Canadians also believe the war in Iraq has increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks around the world.
A 35-nation BBC poll released Tuesday found 46 per cent of Canadians think the United States, Great Britain and their allies were right to topple Saddam. A total of 40 per cent say that was a mistake.
By contrast, just 36 per cent of the nearly 42,000 people surveyed worldwide endorse the removal of Saddam, with 45 per cent opposed.
The poll found Canadians are sharply divided on whether coalition troops should stay in Iraq. Forty-seven per cent say the troops should remain until Iraq becomes stable, with 44 per cent favouring withdrawal within months.
Internationally, half of those polled want a speedy withdrawal, with just 35 per cent backing the continued presence of troops in Iraq.
But the picture changes if the new Iraqi government asks the U.S.-led forces to remain until the situation stabilizes. Under those circumstances, 68 per cent of Canadians -- and 48 per cent internationally -- think the troops should stay.
There is overwhelming consensus on one point, however. In 33 of the 35 countries surveyed, a majority or plurality of respondents think the war in Iraq has increased the risk of terrorist attacks.
Nearly seven in 10 Canadians hold that view, even more than the international average of 60 per cent. Just five per cent of Canadians, and 12 per cent in all 35 countries, think the war has made the world a safer place.
"Citizens worldwide think western leaders have made a fundamental mistake in their war on terror by invading Iraq," concludes Doug Miller, the president of GlobeScan, which conducted the survey between October 2005 and January 2006 with the Program on International Policy Attitudes.
The margin of error ranges from 2.5 per cent to four per cent, depending on the country.
The view the Iraq war has increased the terrorist threat means it's unlikely the U.S. can rally support for military action against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, says Chris Coulter, a GlobeScan vice-president in Toronto.
"This shows that the appetite for another regime-change experiment by the U.S. administration just isn't there," says Coulter.
"The military option really isn't on the table."
A little more than 1,000 people were surveyed by phone for the Canadian portion of the poll.
A regional breakdown reveals some interesting cleavages.
Quebecers, for instance, are evenly split on whether the removal of Saddam was justified. But they are more likely than other Canadians to say the troops should leave Iraq.
A solid majority of Albertans support the coalition presence, but nearly two-thirds agree the war has increased the likelihood of more terrorist attacks.
A majority in British Columbia believe it was a mistake to overthrow Saddam.
WHAT CANADIANS ARE THINKING:
A 35-nation BBC poll shows Canadians, by a margin of 46 per cent to 40 per cent, are more likely than people in other countries to favour the U.S. decision to topple Saddam Hussein. In contrast, the move was only supported by 36 per cent worldwide.
United States Right decison 60 Mistake 32
Canada Right decison 45 Mistake 40
Brazil Right decison 65 Mistake 29
Chile Right decison 26 Mistake 55
Mexico Right decison 15 Mistake 43
Argentina Right decison 14 Mistake 74
Poland Right decison 65 Mistake 18
Great Britain Right decison 49 Mistake 40
Finland Right decison 45 Mistake 42
Italy Right decison 34 Mistake 48
France Right decison 33 Mistake 50
Germany Right decison 30 Mistake 61
Spain Right decison 24 Mistake 65
Russia Right decison 27 Mistake 42
Iraq Right decison 74 Mistake 23
Iran Right decison 33 Mistake 48
Saudi Arabia Right decison 32 Mistake 36
Turkey Right decison 22 Mistake 55
Egypt Right decison 20 Mistake 54
Kenya Right decison 55 Mistake 35
Nigeria Right decison 50 Mistake 32
Tanzania Right decison 43 Mistake 51
Ghana Right decison 34 Mistake 40
South Africa Right decison 31 Mistake 33
Zimbabwe Right decison 29 Mistake 44
Senegal Right decison 22 Mistake 68
Congo Right decison 21 Mistake 54
Philippines Right decison 56 Mistake 19
India Right decison 48 Mistake 28
Australia Right decison 47 Mistake 44
Afghanistan Right decison 40 Mistake 35
South Korea Right decison 25 Mistake 70
China Right decison 19 Mistake 61
Indonesia Right decison 17 Mistake 67
Sir Lanka Right decison 12 Mistake 37
Average Right decison 36 Mistake 45
Source: BBC World Service
NUFF SAID....END OF STORY!
Thats more than Americans who support the war
LOL
Live on FOX, Bush in India for Press Conference
Is that what this is?
Great!
India's leader is praising our President like few have
Should, but won't.
Too busy trying to score points for the 2006 election.
Poland too and more recently Denmark for standing up to the islamists instead of appeasing them (in addition to the 500 troops Denmark has in Iraq)
These are the numbers that count!
Wanna bet one of "our" reporters asks about Dubai?
Questions about bombings in Pakistan, Bush will not back away from the visit
WOO HOO I knew it :-)
Considering that the BBC is among the US's harshed critics, I'd be willing to bet folding money that this survey was skewed to show the support as low as possible. Similar to the now infamous CBS poll.
So the true support is probably even higher.
I didn't figure he would.
But we both know who did chicken out.
Great press Conference, and I'm sure our MSM will be all over it ..... NOT!
This man is a great leader
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