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Originally Posted by JayMcGee
(Post 322315)
Of course Iran hates America..... and so do the majority of Middle east states.
Why?
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For those who can’t/won't read the various sources, well, 'hate of America' appears stronger in Islamic countries that are supposed to be American friends. Iranian ‘dislike of America’ is same or slightly less. ‘America dislike’ is strongest in Pakistan – supposedly a strongest American ally.
From the Harvard International Review comes numbers and supporting facts (paragraphs beginning with boldface letter is most relevant):
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It's the Policy, Stupid
Political Islam and US Foreign Policy
Is the primary cause of radicalism and anti-Westernism, especially anti-Americanism, extremist theology or simply the policies of many Muslim and Western governments?
A new Gallup World Study overwhelmingly suggests the latter. The poll, whose results are released for the first time in this article, now enables us to get beyond conflicting analyses of experts and selective voices from the "Arab street." It lets us listen to one billion Muslims from Morocco to Indonesia. And they tell us that US policies, not values, are behind the ire of the Arab/Muslim world. ...
History demonstrates that political Islam is both extremist and mainstream. ...
Is there a blind hatred of the United States? The question "Why do they hate us?" raised in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 looms large following continued terrorist attacks and the dramatic growth of anti-Americanism. A common answer provided by some politicians and experts has been, "They hate our way of life, our freedom, democracy, and success." Considering the broad based anti-Americanism, not only among extremists but also among a significant mainstream majority in the Muslim world (and indeed in many other parts of the world), this answer is not satisfactory. Although the Muslim world expresses many common grievances, do extremists and moderates differ in attitudes about the West?
Focusing on the attitudes of those with radical views and comparing them with the moderate majority results in surprising findings. When asked what they admired most about the West, both extremists and moderates had the identical top three spontaneous responses: (1) technology; (2) the West's value system, hard work, self-responsibility, rule of law, and cooperation; and (3) its fair political systems, democracy, respect for human rights, freedom of speech, and gender equality. A significantly higher percent of potential extremists than moderates (50 percent versus 35 percent) believe that "moving towards greater governmental democracy" will foster progress in the Arab/Muslim world. Potential extremists believe even more strongly than moderates (58 percent versus 45 percent) that Arab/Muslim nations are eager to have better relations with the West. Finally, no significant difference exists between the percentage of potential extremists and moderates who said "better relations with the West concerns me a lot."
While many believe anti-Americanism is tied to a basic hatred of the West and deep West-East religious and cultural differences, the data above contradicts these views. In addition, Muslim assessments of individual Western countries demonstrate that Muslim views do not paint all Western countries with the same brush. Unfavorable opinions of the United States or the United Kingdom do not preclude favorable attitudes towards other Western countries like France or Germany. Data shows that while moderates have very unfavorable opinions of the United States (42 percent) and Great Britain (34 percent), unfavorable opinions of France (15 percent) and Germany (13 percent) were far less and in fact comparable to the percent of Muslims who viewed Pakistan or Turkey unfavorably (both at 12 percent).
What creates unfavorable attitudes towards the United States? Belief that the United States is serious about democracy in Muslim countries has long been undermined by what is perceived as the United States' "double standard" in promoting democracy. Key factors of this perception include a long track record of supporting authoritarian regimes in the Arab and Muslim world while not promoting democracy there as it did elsewhere after the fall of the Soviet Union. Then, when weapons of mass destruction were not to be found in Iraq, the Bush administration boldly declared that the US-led invasion and the toppling of Saddam Hussein were intended to bring democracy to Iraq as part of a broader policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East. ...
While the spread of democracy has been the stated goal of the United States, majorities in every nation surveyed by Gallup do not believe that the United States was serious about the establishment of democratic systems in the region. For example, only 24 percent in Egypt and Jordan and only 16 percent in Turkey agreed that the United States was serious about establishing democratic systems. ...
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Apparent is a trend where Islamic people don't believe Americans. Can anyone blame them? United States has lied because George Jr and his administration even lied about international kidnapping and torture, etc.
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Muslim perceptions of the US role and response to the Israeli wars in Gaza and Lebanon must also be seen within the broad context of the Arab and Muslim world. From North Africa to Southeast Asia, the Gallup World Poll indicates that majorities in every predominantly Muslim country surveyed associate "ruthless" with the United States (68 percent in Turkey, 85 percent in Morocco). Muslim publics are also much less likely to say the US is "trustworthy" when compared to other Western nations. For example, only 4 percent of Egyptians consider the US "trustworthy," while 22 percent associate this description with France and Japan, and 18 percent with Germany. Outside of Iraq, majorities also agreed that the invasion of Iraq has done more harm than good (ranging from 52 percent in Iran to 91 percent in Egypt).
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In reviewing this poll and others, a common thread appears. ‘America unfavorable’ numbers are higher in countries with freer press and that are considered American friends such as Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan. Some of the most unfavorable numbers are found in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Unfavorable numbers trend less anti-American in Iran and Morocco. As noted farther below, Iran is one of the few countries where 'America unfavorable' ratings softened - they less hate America.
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America's unconditional support of Israel cast it in the eyes of many as a partner, not simply in military action against HAMAS or Hizbollah militants, but in a war against the democratically elected Palestinian government in Gaza and the government of Lebanon, a long-time US ally. The primary victims in Gaza and Lebanon were hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, not terrorists. In Lebanon, more than 500 were killed, 2,000 wounded, and 800,000 displaced. Israeli’s military destroyed the civilian infrastructures of both Gaza and Lebanon. International organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have criticized Israel for violating international law.
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So how unfavorable is Islamic opinion of the US. Getting worse. Numbers from Gallup Polls in 2001/2 and again in 2005/6: this time from The Economist of 10 Mar 2007:
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What the data show is not reassuring to Americans: in most places, the percentage holding "unfavourable views" of the United States has risen - from 64% to 79% in Saudi Arabia, 33% to 62% in Turkey, 41% to 49% in Morocco. (Exceptions do exist: in Iran the figure fell from 63% to 52%)
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Why do Americans think Islam has so poor opinions of American? From a Gallup poll of Mar 2002:
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Q. Do you think that the unfavorable views Muslims have of the U.S. are based mostly on:
A. What the U.S. has done (or are): 11%
B. Misinformation provided by their media and government about U.S.: 78%
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In later polls, that 'misinformed belief' almost disappears. Curious, they are not so misinformed after all? That is what American opinions now say. Why increasing unfavorable American ratings all over the Islamic world? And are Americans finally learning the meaning of, "We have met the enemy and he is us"? [deja vue Nam].
Meanwhile American unfavorable opinion of Islam has increased from 39% after 11 September to 46% in a Mar 2006 Washington Post/ABC News poll.
A trend from the numbers. Iran is not the ‘American hater’ as some Americans so strongly believe. From polls, that ‘strongly unfavorable’ rating is higher in Pakistan, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia - supposedly American's closest friends. Sometimes those ‘unfavorable to favorable’ numbers are two to one and four to one – landslide opinions. Government ‘support of America’ is not shared by their people. ‘American unfavorable’ ratings tend to be equal or slightly higher among America's closest allies as compared to Iran.
Meanwhile, what religion has a higher unfavorable rating in America? Scientology is massively ‘less popular’ to Americans as compared to any other religion; including Islam. Americans only give Scientology (in one poll) an 8% approval rating. Americans are 3 times more favorable among Islamic Pakistanis and Iranians than Scientology is among Americans. |
