America: Greatest threat to World Peace,,

[Pete]

By Daniel Dombey and Stanley Pignal in London

Published: July 1 2007 18:09 | Last updated: July 1 2007 18:09

Europeans consistently regard the US as the biggest threat to world stability, a new poll reveals on Monday.

A survey carried out in June by Harris Research for the Financial Times shows that 32 per cent of respondents in five European countries regard the US as a bigger threat than any other state.

In the US itself, North Korea and Iran are seen as the biggest risks. However, the youngest US respondents share the Europeans’ view that theirs is the biggest threat, with 35 per cent of American 16- to 24-year-olds identifying it as the chief danger to stability.

The level of European concern about the US has remained broadly consistent over the past year. In 11 previous polls dating back to July 2006 the proportion of respondents considering the US a threat to stability has ranged between 28 per cent and 38 per cent.

The latest poll comes in the wake of the “surge” that has increased US forces in Iraq to about 160,000 troops, but which has not been accompanied by political breakthroughs or a dramatic reduction of violence. During President George W. Bush’s second term the administration has also embarked on a more consensual international approach to issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and North Korea’s nuclear bomb.

But the poll shows that the European public still considers Mr Bush a risk.

“It is evidence of the continued estrangement between the European public and the Bush administration, in spite of a real improvement in official ties,” said Ron Asmus, head of the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund, which works to bolster transatlantic ties.

“It is proof that the next president will be confronted with the major challenge of improving America’s image abroad, starting with Europe and our main allies.”

Inhabitants of Spain are most concerned about the US, with 46 per cent of respondents naming America as the biggest threat.

European poll respondents – who also come from France, Germany, Italy and the UK – are increasingly concerned about China, which 19 per cent perceive as the biggest threat, up from 12 per cent last July.

Meanwhile, 17 per cent identify Iran as the biggest threat, 11 per cent Iraq and 9 per cent North Korea. Only 5 per cent single out Russia, despite increased tensions between Moscow and the west.

The poll’s data on the US indicate that 25 per cent of Americans see North Korea as the biggest threat, followed by Iran with 23 per cent, China with 20 per cent, and the US itself with 11 per cent.

The poll is consistent with findings last week by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, which found that favourable ratings of the US had declined in 26 of 33 countries over the past five years.

But the Pew poll also contrasted unfavourable ratings of the US with much more positive responses in Israel, Poland, Japan, India and parts of Africa and Latin America.

The survey for the Financial Times was carried out online by Harris Interactive between July 2006 and June 2007. More than 1,000 people were polled in each country each month.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/70046760-27f...b5df10621.html
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007

[Pete]

This comes as no surprise, as another recent poll showed GW Bush as a greater threat to world security then Bin Ladin and Akmadinajad .
America with it new initiatives of pre emtive war and ivasions of Iraq and Afghanastan makes the US responsible for perhaps one million deaths during this adminastration.
Most of the world now see America as a bully rather then the humane compassionate nation and recent insticts to demonize, distablize nations as news events show a rush for more weapons, better weapons for defence both from US intervention internally and externaly.
Recent events and statements from Russian president Putin have placed relations with Russia at an all time low, going back to the days of Kruschev and the cold war.
There is no doubt the world is less safer since from this adminastration.

[Rob]

Too true. I may have at one time swallowed the line that they were just playing the "Global Policeman", but unfortunately since Bush & Co it's becoming more and more obvious that any U.S. government rarely does anything unless it suits their own needs.

When you look back at Korea, Vietnam, Mogadishu etc so many in the U.S. come across as having this superior attitude and extremely ignorant with this idea that they are "making the world a better place".
Yet if you look back over the last 50 years they've caused more harm than most European Colonial Powers did in 200. Far from learning the mistakes of history they continue to repeat them.

[CHUQ]

How true! All the plans that the US has, have been tried before and shown to be failures. But yet, we continue to act as an imperialistic power, to further the agenda of corporations.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Rob

Too true. I may have at one time swallowed the line that they were just playing the "Global Policeman", but unfortunately since Bush & Co it's becoming more and more obvious that any U.S. government rarely does anything unless it suits their own needs.

When you look back at Korea, Vietnam, Mogadishu etc so many in the U.S. come across as having this superior attitude and extremely ignorant with this idea that they are "making the world a better place".
Yet if you look back over the last 50 years they've caused more harm than most European Colonial Powers did in 200. Far from learning the mistakes of history they continue to repeat them.

I would like to think that the American people have not forgot those mistakes of the past and that is why i created a follow up thread, "Who drives the Foreign Policy in the US ???" . I am of the opinion that basic principles of human, compassion, nature and want for a better life still apply but fearful that America is no longer steered by the founding father constitution of "we the people" but rather a distinct group on a quest for world domination.
As the polls indicate both internally and throughout the world that America is on path accelerating out of control.

[tranquill]

Many Israeli officials argued against the Iraqi war. Like Shoher here: http://samsonblinded.org/blog/iraq

[neilsimon]

Originally Posted by CHUQ

How true! All the plans that the US has, have been tried before and shown to be failures. But yet, we continue to act as an imperialistic power, to further the agenda of corporations.

I fully agree with your statement --- it's like, sometimes I wonder if my tax money goes to funding decisions like these.

[iris in stones]

Are we a nation of citizens or a nation of corporations?
The national course dictates that policy serves people, and that a substantial amount of investment is public in nature.
The imperial course dictates that policy serves corporations and their representatives, and all investment is private in nature.
We see the costs of the latter course. It is unsustainable.
Time is on the side of public investment, infrastructure.

[neilsimon]

Originally Posted by iris in stones

Are we a nation of citizens or a nation of corporations?
The national course dictates that policy serves people, and that a substantial amount of investment is public in nature.
The imperial course dictates that policy serves corporations and their representatives, and all investment is private in nature.
We see the costs of the latter course. It is unsustainable.
Time is on the side of public investment, infrastructure.

Right on --- people are tired of being represented by ideals that don't necessarily mirror real world, day-to-day experiences.

[Stanley]

Agreed,, but there is still a stormy cloud over the people that dictates if were going to get soaked or not.