Opinion of U.S. from abroad plummets under President Bush

As President Bush meets today with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the head of the European Commission, he might keep in mind the view of the United States from Europe, Japan and elsewhere.

It isn't pretty -- and has grown notably ugly during his presidency.

A poll conducted by eight major newspapers found that opinions of the United States had dropped sharply over the past eight years.

According to a report in the Guardian, of Britain, among the French, 75% said their view of the United States had gotten worse or much worse since Bush became president. In Canada, 77% made a similar statement.

And in Switzerland -- notwithstanding die anmut, la douceur, la dolcezza (OK, for those of you not conversant in three of Switzerland's four languages, the sweetness) of Heidi and its chocolates, and its appreciation of Bush-like efficiency -- the percentage of those with an increasingly negative view of America under Bush topped out at 86%.

The credit-banking-financial maelstrom will be the central topic of Bush's meeting this afternoon with Sarkozy at Camp David, Md. Maybe the Swissies are thinking of late about the banking crisis?

In its report, the Guardian noted:

Many people now fear rather than warm to America. In France 25% of voters say relations with the U.S. are tense, against 38% who say they are friendly and 39% who think they are neutral. In Japan only 16% say friendship and 19% tension, with 62% neutral. In no country does a majority think relations should be described as friendly.

Even America's two neighbouring states are sceptical of U.S. intentions. Only 23% of Mexicans describe relations as friendly and 28% say they are tense. In Canada, which has just re-elected a Conservative minority government, voters are strongly supportive of a Democratic presidency; 43% say relations with the U.S. are friendly and 14% tense.

The survey also finds strong opposition to any attack on Iran and -- in the six countries questioned on the issue -- majority support for a rapid withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

Indeed, it found that in each country polled, with the exception of Britain and Poland, a majority opposed military intervention in Iran.

As for views of the U.S. presidential election, John McCain and Barack Obama, the blue and red in the chart above says it all.

For the full report on the survey, click here.

-- James Gerstenzang

Comments

[Rose]

Of course Bush knows the plan will work, as soon as the Dems win in November and clean up another GOP Nazi mess. He's just trying to plant seeds of credit for the future work of others, like Nixon took credit for the EPA after reducing its power originally intended by the Dems whose idea he thwarted.
The Dems are NOT SOCIALISTS, but if they were, that would be BETTER THAN BEING A GOP NAZI pathetically stooping to steal every election FROM the people. Why don't McCain-Palin trust the voting public?

[PNW Trojan]

GOOOOOOD comment, Rose! Bush pretends not to give a dam-; he's delusional, much like the jack-booted thugs of the FREAK Far, FAR 'Right.' You must confess (IF you're not a Party boot-lickin toady) that Obama MAY prove to be more than a HOPEFUL, INspirational finger puppet... but I don't see pelosi, frank, clinton (dodged a HORRIFIC mistake, THERE!) dodd, reid and the rest of the limp, impotent RICO-lovin Dems, proving any less CORRUPT than bush's backers. Ask pelosi et.al., WHOSE fingerprints are on that $700 Billion USELESS, PORK-laden Bail Out obscenity. Too ashamed to tell us aren't you, pelosi/clinton/frank.

[Hillary '08]

Bush is hosting a 'Global Financial Crisis Summit'? only under 8 years of Republicans 'leadership' would such a thing even be possible. The only thing Bush should be hosting is a funeral for the World's economy. Now that he's completely killed the economy it's all he has left to do, help give it a decent burial.. Thank God Obama is considered the Messiah, we will need someone to resurrect 'the remains' once Bush finally slithers out of the White House for good. Wow, I really love the sound of that, Bush will never be the President, ever, ever again after this, and what a wonderful world it will be once again, finally..

[GdG]

I know many Americans don’t give a darn about what the rest of the world thinks of us. As an American living in France, I can tell you that Europeans can’t believe the arrogance the Bush administration has shown with many decisions and comments that spelled a “we don’t need anyone” attitude. Really? Now the Bush needs Europe and the rest of the world to help solve the financial crisis which happened under his guard. Most Europeans think that an Obama administration will mend fences and treat the rest of the world with the respect they deserve. Expats in France had to put up with American insults to the French, from being called cowards, to “freedom fries”, and pouring down the drain French wine, etc. etc. So who was right? Was Iraq a threat to National Security for the US? Facts show it wasn’t. As it turned out, all the European countries that did not join Bush in launching a “liberation” war were the last to laugh (although it is not a laughing matter, of course). Americans in the US don’t realize how damaged the country’s reputation is. The only good thing, is that they blame Bush, not the American people, hence the desire of change of administration.

[gerrrg]

And you can hear the very last Republican die-hard, uttering with every last breath..."Either you're with us or against us!"

And the rest of the world and all Democrats rejoice the rebirth of hope.

[Marie Ellen]

Another continual reminder that Americans voted this guy/Bush for 2 (not just 1) terms so the U.S.'s world opinion is another indication of the ethnocentric self centeredness of our society. Everyone should be REQUIRED to read the book "The End of American Exceptionalism"

[Gene Venable]

Too bad, I wanted to know what Russians thought.

I think that no matter who wins, Bush is getting a third term, since it will take that long to undo much of the harm he has done.

[sbnative]

AGREE - Bush has not helped our world standing. BUT that is not the issue at hand... THIS IS: Very few have said Obama IS a Muslim. But he DID support Raila Odinga in Kenya -- who DID sign an agreement with radical Muslims to enact SHARIA LAW. We the People HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW our ‘future’ President ALIGNED himself with Odinga -- a brutal thug who ‘won’ a government post by instigating riots—aka ethnic cleansing—at the hands of fellow tribe members (with the help of radical Muslims.) NOT what I want in a president. But where is our 'free' press? Sucking up to the money machine (Obama's camp—and where is all that money coming from?) Google it. Odinga Obama. Watch the YouTube videos shot in Kenya. Check overseas news sources about Odinga/Kenya. Find out for yourself. I don't understand Powell "overlooking" this, except he wants a job in the new bought-and-voted-frauded-in administration. The only thing that will impress me is IF Obama is the martyr who stands up to radical Muslims and doesn't sign agreements with THEM in America. This is a Judeo-Christian country and we aren't looking for that kind of "change."

[jake snodgrass]

If you listen to the tone and rhetoric of this article and those who express their hatred with response comments it is hard to understand why the left considers themselves intelligent. It revolves around ideological hate. I agree Bush has been bad, but not for the same reasons as the left do... I also think McCain/Palin have been a disappointment but if you think that Obama's ability extends beyond rhetoric you are going to be surprised. He has received a free pass long enough he needs to vetted.

[Mack]

to SBNative: Despite the propaganda spewed by the far-right in our country, there is nothing inherently wrong or dangerous about being a muslim. Do you suggest we should not have diplomatic relations with other countries unless they share our 'Judeo-Christian' values?

There isn't much difference in the behaviors of radically conservative religious types, whether they are muslim or christian. The opinions you expressed are a great example of this.

The USA was never intended to be a theocracy, despite the efforts of our far and increasingly radical right over the last eight years. Believe what you want, that's our right as Americans. This does not make others evil. Nor does it give us a right to impose our beliefs on others. God himself doesn't do that to people, why do we have the right?

And as for supporting oppressive regimes, perhaps you should look into the careers of both Bush's. In fact, our country has a long history of okie-doking dictators when it suited our needs. And try to find a venture of Bush Jr's that doesn't include checks with Muslim signatures. I realize these facts fly in the face of conservative ideology these days, but still they remain.

And before I get flamed for being a 'liberal' -- I am not. I'm a lifelong Republican living in Tennessee. But I've had enough of how things have been going.

As for the 'voter fraud' issues -- just saw this headline on FOXNews: "Republican Voter Registration Chief Arrested for Fraud in California"

-sigh-

[Brian]

One has to wonder what makes the Belgians so much different than the rest of the Europeans. That said, I've always had a fondness for Belgium.

[Mohinder S. Bains]

Bush's mad foreign policy caused over hundred times more civilian deaths in Afghanistan, and Iraq wars than by the terrorist attack on the New York trade Center. If Al Quida and Osama were the culprits, why were many hundreds of thousands innocent civilians in Afganistan, and Iraq have been killed? I remember Taliban government didn't say they wouldn't hand over Osama if there was sufficient evidence to prove that He did it. Burden of proof was on Bush, which he failed to provide. If someone from Iraq demands Bush to be handed over to Iraqis because his order of attack on Iraq resulted in hundred of thousands deaths of Iraqi civilians, is the US government going to hand over Bush to them without any proof? Who put Taliban in power in Afghanistan? Why didn't US set up democracy in Afghanistan, when Russians moved out? Why did Pakistan become a friend of US, which was considered by the US a rogue state until Al Quida or someone attacked the US? Why did US attack Iraq when there were no WMDs? Americans and the whole world demands answers? He maligned US image in the whole world.

[Olivier]

@Mack. There is one minor mistake that I reported to The Guardian concerning the numbers for Belgium. The Guardian fixed it since then. Scroll down on their page ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/17/uselections2008-barackobama1 ), and you'll see "This article was amended on Tuesday October 21 2008. A graphic showing the results of a poll on how the US is viewed around the world reversed the findings for Belgium. We stated that 39% of Belgians polled said their opinion of the US had changed for the worse since the start of the Bush presidency, and 52% said it had changed for the better. Those figures should have been the other way round."