Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The International Herald Tribune?Pew Research Center poll
An eye opening read for insular Americans of important decision makers and opinion leaders in two dozen countries reveals that just 29 percent would support a U.S. strike against Iraq. (Western Europe and Muslim countries both responded with a meager 32 percent.)
Failure to gain support for smart sanctions could push the United States one step closer to unilateral military action. Indeed, those countries that had hoped the war on terrorism would produce a kinder, gentler, more multilateral George W. Bush may be in for a rude awakening. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, a vast perceptual divide has emerged between the United States and its allies. The rest of the world still sees the United States as an overwhelmingly dominant military power, but Americans now see themselves as victims.
Mark Strauss is senior editor at Foreign Policy magazine.
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Britain: "Doing nothing about Iraq's breach of these U.N. resolutions is not an option. ... What we do about that is an open question." ? Prime Minister Tony Blair
Canada: "We need a clear connection between Saddam Hussein and terrorism. ... If there are other reasons, we are always listening. But for me, I think there are a lot of consequences for everybody on a decision like that." ? Prime Minister Jean Chretien
China: "The Iraq question should be resolved within the framework of the UN by diplomatic and political means. Resorting to force or threatening to resort to force will not solve the problem; on the contrary, it leads to more tensions and troubles." ? Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan
Egypt: "Striking Iraq is something that could have repercussions and post-strike developments. We fear chaos happening in the region." ? President Hosni Mubarak
France: "I don't want to imagine an attack against Iraq, an attack that could not be justified unless it is decided by the Security Council." ? President Jacques Chirac
Germany: "To talk about an attack against Iraq now is wrong. ... Under my leadership, Germany will not take part in that." ? Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
Iran: "The Iraqi people, not a world power, should determine Iraq's destiny. At the same time, Iran will not stand idle before such instability because, if a country decides to overthrow another country's government, this will create a norm." ? Hamid Reza Asefi, Foreign Ministry spokesman
Israel: "What I told the Americans, and I repeat it: 'Don't expect us to continue to live with the process of restraint. If they (Iraq) hit us, we reserve the right of response." ? Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Mexico: "We cannot get involved in any war in any way." ? President Vicente Fox
Pakistan: "It is not a question of removing Saddam Hussein. It's the question of attacking a country, attacking another Muslim country." ? President Gen. Pervez Musharraf
Russia: "Any decision to use force against Iraq would not only complicate an Iraqi settlement but also undermine the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East." ? Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
Saudi Arabia: "There is no country I know of supporting the use of force in Iraq at this time. ... The rhetoric about using force is way ahead of the policy." ? Adel al-Jubeir, spokesman for Saudi Arabian ruling family
South Africa: "We are really appalled by any country, whether it is a superpower or a poor country, that goes outside the United Nations and attacks independent countries." ? Nelson Mandela, former president.
Turkey: "We have used every opportunity to tell our friends in the US administration we are opposed to military action against Iraq." ? Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
United Nations: "It would be unwise to attack Iraq, given the current circumstances of what's happening in the Middle East." ? Secretary-General Kofi Annan
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I like the words 'there is a vast divide' between the way Americans see themselves and the rest of the world sees us. Since the rest of the world's viewpoints are not comming from a single media congolmerate, one is tempted to conclude that the way Americans see themselves is a result of indoctrination by a self-descriptive self-talk. We have brainwashed ourselves into believing we are what we want to believe we are. When the patient tells all his doctors that they are crazy, naturally it starts that line of suspicion that leads to diagnosis lock up. The question is, just how do you get the patient to see? It was particularly telling that so many in the world were glad that the US had finally been hit at home on 9/11 even though it was considered to be a horrible act. Do you suppose they were hoping it would open our eyes to something?