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Many in Islamic World Question Motives for U.S. Military Campaign
by The Gallup Poll Editorial Staff
Residents of the countries included in Gallups new survey of the Islamic world are keenly aware of the war on terrorism, including the U.S.-led military actions in Afghanistan that followed the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. In six of the countries included in the study -- Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, and Morocco -- respondents are more attuned to news about Afghanistan than to news about the Sept. 11 attacks themselves.
People living in Islamic countries do not endorse the view that the Sept. 11 attacks were morally justifiable. But at the same time, one of the most striking findings in this study is the degree to which the U.S. military actions in Afghanistan are also perceived as morally unjustifiable.
In every nation in which this question was asked, including Turkey, a majority of those interviewed express the view that the American military action is either largely or completely unjustifiable. And in every nation except Turkey, a majority of respondents give this question a "1" rating, indicating their view that the U.S. military response is "totally unjustifiable morally."
In five of the nations, more respondents actually view the U.S. military actions in Afghanistan as largely or totally unjustifiable than voice this same judgment regarding the attacks of Sept. 11. This is the case in Kuwait (69% versus 37%), Pakistan (80% versus 61%), Morocco (86 % versus 70%), Iran (78% versus 67%), and Indonesia (89% versus 85%). In Lebanon, condemnation is nearly evenly apportioned (68% versus 70%). Only in Turkey is this pattern reversed (60% versus 77%).
Views on U.S. Motives Range From Al Qaeda to Uranium
If the residents of these predominantly Islamic countries are so strongly opposed to the military actions in Afghanistan, why do they believe the United States and its allies are fighting there? To answer that question, respondents were asked in straightforward fashion: "Why do you think the U.S.A. is taking military action in Afghanistan?"
The answers include references to the standard explanation for the attacks put forth by the United States and its allies -- that the military actions are in direct response to the Sept. 11 attacks and are based on the desire to destroy al Qaeda and capture Osama bin Laden.
But there are a variety of other perceptions for the U.S. motivation that stray far from the standard U.S. line. The unprompted, top-of-mind explanations volunteered by respondents in this poll include perceptions that the United States:
is attempting to extend its control in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Islamic countries
wants to start a war against Muslims and Arabs
wants to gain control of Afghanistans natural resources, including uranium
wants to establish political control in Central Asia
For residents of four nations -- Turkey (31%), Indonesia (35%), Pakistan (26%), and Morocco (25%) -- the explanation mentioned most often is the standard U.S. explanation for the military response. But in Kuwait, the most frequent explanation is that the military actions are the result of a U.S. desire to extend its control in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, or Central Asia. Additionally, at least one in five Kuwaitis believes that the military actions are the result of a U.S. desire to wage a more general war against Muslims and Arabs.
Among Iranians, the motive most often ascribed is the desire to extend U.S. power and control within the region. Roughly one in every five Lebanese sees the U.S.-led action as motivated by a desire to gain control over Afghanistans natural resources.
Americans See U.S. Foreign Policy As Major Reason for Negative Muslim Opinion of United States
Value differences between the United States and Muslim countries seen as less important
by David W. Moore
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- According to the most recent Gallup poll of the American public, most residents believe that people in Muslim countries have an unfavorable view of the United States, and that this negative view is mostly influenced by Muslim perceptions of U.S. foreign policy and less so by Muslim perceptions of U.S. values. Especially salient, according to the American public, is the Muslim perception that the United States is unfair in the conflict between the Arabs and the Israelis. A Gallup survey of nine predominantly Islamic countries reinforces this assessment, as very few residents of any of the countries surveyed indicate that the United States is even-handed toward the Palestinians.
The Gallup poll in the United States was conducted March 1-3 and shows that 63% of Americans say a major reason why Muslims are unfavorable toward the United States is their belief that this country favors Israel too much in that country's conflict with Arab nations. Another major reason, according to 62% of the American public, is that Muslims perceive the United States as interfering too much in the affairs of Muslim countries. Just over half of Americans, 51%, believe that Muslim perceptions that the United States is too willing to use military force in Muslim countries are also a major reason for Muslim negative feelings toward this country.
Bonnie said:is attempting to extend its control in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Islamic countries
I think the arabs might be right on target.
Wolfowitz clearly had an invasion of Iraq in mind prior to 9/11 (other leading neo-conservatives probably did as well). Who is to say this administration would not have tried to invade under a different pretext had 9/11 not occurred?
bill clinton wanted to invade but he could not get the fbi and cia to cooperate....seems like the plan to invade existed prior to the bush years
Let's see. Clinton says, just the other day, he wanted OBL dead. He also says he left a plan in tact to do such, yet his own people that were 'left behind' say not so.I question that. I have no doubts that Clinton wanted Hussein gone, but if the Iraq Liberation Act is any indicator, he would have favored a less direct method than a full ground invasion. Perhaps arming and supplying Huessien opponents and utilitizing clandestine forces.
Regardless of what Clinton would have preferred, it does not change the fact that the Iraqis are probably correct.
I question that. I have no doubts that Clinton wanted Hussein gone, but if the Iraq Liberation Act is any indicator, he would have favored a less direct method than a full ground invasion. Perhaps arming and supplying Huessien opponents and utilitizing clandestine forces.
Regardless of what Clinton would have preferred, it does not change the fact that the Iraqis are probably correct.
clinton wanted to invade the middle east to get obl......
the iraqis are correct about what? they were not mentioned in the poll.
Let's see. Clinton says, just the other day, he wanted OBL dead. He also says he left a plan in tact to do such, yet his own people that were 'left behind' say not so.
So you may be right, proving Clinton the liar so many on the right say he is.
1549 said:My bad, I had Iraq on my mind. The muslims that were polled are probably correct.
My bad, I had Iraq on my mind. The muslims that were polled are probably correct.
so you think Iraq was invaded to get UBL?
But there are a variety of other perceptions for the U.S. motivation that stray far from the standard U.S. line. The unprompted, top-of-mind explanations volunteered by respondents in this poll include perceptions that the United States:
is attempting to extend its control in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Islamic countries
wants to start a war against Muslims and Arabs
wants to gain control of Afghanistans natural resources, including uranium
wants to establish political control in Central Asia
is attempting to extend its control in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Islamic countries
extending control would imply that we already have control over some portions of the middle east....
what do we currently control?
what more do we want control?
why do we want to control the middle east?
military bases
oilfields
oil, fear, spread democracy, white man's burden, revenge, ego, global economy, need for muslim allies, etc. (not saying all of these are bad, just potential reasons why we would want to extend our presence in the region)
we have bases in uae, dubai and sa.....this is why obl declared war on the us in 1996
they already sell us the oil for less money than the war cost
you are reaching......why not just take over mexico and venezula and freeze out the middle east
Clearly shows how the world felt about us just five months post 9/11 and years before any war in Iraq
military bases
oilfields
oil, fear, spread democracy, white man's burden, revenge, ego, global economy, need for muslim allies, etc. (not saying all of these are bad, just potential reasons why we would want to extend our presence in the region)
Yeah. It proves that outside Kuwait, the majority (and in a few cases, vast majority) thought that 9-11 was unjustified. BTW, seven countries aren't the world.
This is the case in Kuwait (69% versus 37%), Pakistan (80% versus 61%), Morocco (86 % versus 70%), Iran (78% versus 67%), and Indonesia (89% versus 85%). In Lebanon, condemnation is nearly evenly apportioned (68% versus 70%). Only in Turkey is this pattern reversed (60% versus 77%).
It also shows Doctor that even after 9/11 those countries and Michael Moore were overwhelmingly against our actions in Afghanistan.........We're supposed to be grateful they had a modicum of sympathy for our 3000 innocent slaughtered citizens.......How awfully BIG OF THEM...
