Posted on 02/08/2006 5:24:47 PM PST by EvilHomer
The United States has improved its standing in the eyes of the world during the past year, according to a BBC World Service poll. It is now the second least popular nation in the world, beating out Iran with 13 out of 33 countries polled saying the US has a "mainly positive" influence and 17 saying its influence is "mainly negative." Iran, by comparison, polls 5 for "mainly positive" and 24 for "mainly negative."
The survey asked 39,435 people in 33 countries for their opinions of Britain, China, Europe, France, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Those from Russia, China, India, Britain, and France were not asked about their own countries.
But although the US is up from the 2004 poll, in which it was last among nations in terms of positive influence, it has lost popularity in some key allied nations. In Europe, those expressing a negative view of the US increased in Great Britain (from 50% to 57%), France (from 54% to 65%), and Italy (from 40% to 46%).
The US also lost popularity in the China, with negative ratings rising a full 20 points to 62 percent from 42 percent last year, as well as in Brazil and Australia, where negative opinion has risen to 60%, up from 51% and 52%, respectively.
However, the US did not lose face in all nations polled. Negative opinion fell in Russia (from 63% to 52%) and Turkey (from 62% to 49%), while in Poland, positive opinion has risen from 52 percent in 2004 to 62 percent in 2005.
Perhaps more importantly though, only 27% of Iraqis view America's influence as positive, which is 1% above Iranians, 26% of whom see it as positive.
The margin of error in polling ranged from 2.5% to 4%.
There's a subtle trolling aura to your posts.
Because I'm proposing alternative positions?
Opinion polls are worthless. I'd like to see the comparison of how many people vote with their feet. By far the US is the most favored destination.
You know you are being effective when you get these kind of results. The alpha male is always a target.
"Because I'm proposing alternative positions?"
No, posting an article/poll where the US is shown to be about as unpopular/evil as Iran.
But that has to do more with economic opportunity here than with popularity.
Sorry, from now I'll try posting only articles/polls that glorify the Motherla...erm, America.
So it's trolling to suggest that America is as unpopular (I don't see how evil fits there) as Iran when GlobeScan, a reputable agency as far as I am aware, has recently published a poll that suggests just that? I'm only presenting an opinion that is obviously in the far minority on Free Republic, not trying to stir up trouble. Unless disagreeing is prohibited.
Are the Dems sending out a press release saying that this is unfair to Iran?
Except among US liberals.
Except among US liberals.
"We hate the infidel American! America is the great satan! (Quietly) Pssst...do you know how I can get a quick visa there?"
How is this an alternative position? Is a stupid poll. You seem a little defensive.
I've been accused of trolling, so I defended myself. And what constitutes a "stupid poll?" If you're going to question GlobeScan's legitimacy go right ahead, but just because what I posted obviously goes against the majority here doesn't make me a troll.
And the point is?
How popular would we be without giving billions in foreign aid?
From the article:
Perhaps more importantly though, only 27% of Iraqis view America's influence as positive
Ask any soldier and they'll tell you that is patently false. One more thing. You find nothing curious with the timing of this poll?
Do I agree with the poll? Not really, but I'm probably more left-leaning than most on this forum, so I do think that it makes some points and is not an utterly fabricated statistic.
As for your point, soldiers are only exposed to public opinion when there's a company of soldiers marching through a town or village. Of course the common folk are going to wave and say how grateful they are when men armed with AK-47s are occupying their region. Many Iraqis hated Saddam, but don't find the unstable, violence-ridden and foreign-occupied postwar Iraq to be much of an improvement.
Seeing how furiously envious most people are of the US, this shows that there must be a whole lot of hatred for Iran because heaven knows no one is jealous of them.
Many Iraqis hated Saddam, but don't find the unstable, violence-ridden and foreign-occupied postwar Iraq to be much of an improvement.
I'm sure that living under the fear of torture, imprisonment and death was just a little bit more inconveniencing than the situation today. Oh, here's where you say Abu Ghraib... Blah,Blah,Blah....
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