"Poll reveals Arabs' true feelings on US"
Not surprising, unfortunately. Does confirm my impression, though, that the animosity is directed almost singly towards our foreign policy rather than our culture, values, or products.
Excerpts:
The poll, Impressions of America, was commissioned by the Arab American Institute (AAI) and conducted in June by Zogby International. ...
In Egypt alone, 98% of those surveyed expressed a negative view of the US, a 22% increase from two years ago. The favourability rating was highest in Lebanon, where 20% said they had a positive view of the US and nearly 70% said otherwise. ...
AAI president James Zogby said US policies on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were primarily responsible for the heightened animosity. The vast majority of Arabs surveyed in all six countries said they had an unfavourable view of American policy on both issues. ...
The growing perception in the Arab world that the US has targeted Arabs and Muslims in Bush's War on Terrorism has become a "third issue in shaping attitudes toward the United States", he said. ...
Despite their dislike of US foreign policy, the poll showed many Arabs still admire American values and products, Zogby said, contradicting the theory that 'they hate us because of our values'. ...
Arabs who had either visited the US or learned about it by watching American television had more favourable views toward American values. Such factors did not, however, influence Arab opinions on US policy, Zogby said.
Excerpts:
The poll, Impressions of America, was commissioned by the Arab American Institute (AAI) and conducted in June by Zogby International. ...
In Egypt alone, 98% of those surveyed expressed a negative view of the US, a 22% increase from two years ago. The favourability rating was highest in Lebanon, where 20% said they had a positive view of the US and nearly 70% said otherwise. ...
AAI president James Zogby said US policies on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were primarily responsible for the heightened animosity. The vast majority of Arabs surveyed in all six countries said they had an unfavourable view of American policy on both issues. ...
The growing perception in the Arab world that the US has targeted Arabs and Muslims in Bush's War on Terrorism has become a "third issue in shaping attitudes toward the United States", he said. ...
Despite their dislike of US foreign policy, the poll showed many Arabs still admire American values and products, Zogby said, contradicting the theory that 'they hate us because of our values'. ...
Arabs who had either visited the US or learned about it by watching American television had more favourable views toward American values. Such factors did not, however, influence Arab opinions on US policy, Zogby said.
// 7/26/2004 
