International Herald Tribune Editorial - Through others' eyes

International Herald Tribune Editorial - Through others' eyes
Cop[yright by International Herald Tribune
Published: July 3, 2007


The central finding of the latest Pew global opinion poll is, alas, drearily familiar: President George W. Bush and his misguided war in Iraq have dragged the United States far, far down in the world's eyes.

The only good news - and it's not much comfort - is that most countries give higher ratings to the American people than to the country. That means a change of government could bring a change of attitude toward America. But there is a long way to go, especially to correct the perception that the United States promotes its values globally not because they are universally good, but because they are good for American interests.

The survey found that majorities or pluralities in 33 of the 47 countries polled expressed a dislike of American ideas about democracy, with the hostility highest in three allies: Turkey, France and Pakistan. The poll also showed a widespread perception that Washington acts without considering the interests of other countries. And strong majorities everywhere saw the United States as the worst culprit in "hurting the world's environment."

What the Pew poll reflects is a profound disappointment in America's failure to live up to its own ideals and standards. Ponder this: Two-thirds of American respondents said it was good that "American ideas and customs were spreading around the world." Yet two-thirds or more of the respondents in 26 other countries, and majorities in another 10, disagreed, including former pro-American bastions like Britain, Poland, Turkey, Kuwait and Indonesia.

Bush and his team are famous for not listening to anyone but themselves. But they need to listen to what the rest of the world is saying when they refuse to plan for a rational exit from Iraq or block serious efforts to control global warming or insist that the time is still not right for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. It's not just their reputation that is suffering. It's America's.