A fresh public opinion poll was conducted by order of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) specifically for the program "What the World Thinks about America". Statistical research was carried out over about two months and ended in mid-June. Sociologists from the company ICM surveyed residents of 11 countries - Australia, Canada, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Great Britain, the USA and Russia.
The poll results turned out to be little consolation for the American leadership. As it turned out, today 57% of the total number of respondents have a negative attitude toward the head of the USA. If we do not take into account the votes of Americans, the number of those who consider President Bush the embodiment of evil will rise to 60%. More than half of respondents believe that the USA made a mistake when it started the war against Saddam Hussein's regime. It is noteworthy that the most opponents of the war with Iraq were in Russia - 83%. The actions of the Pentagon were also disapproved by 63% of the French. At the same time, 74% of Americans and 79% of Israelis considered the invasion of Iraq legitimate and justified. Interestingly, in the United Kingdom there were significantly fewer supporters of the war with Iraq than in the USA. The military operation against Hussein's regime was supported by only 54% of Britons.
The authority of the USA in Islamic countries turned out to be very low. The overwhelming majority of residents of Jordan and Indonesia (71 and 66% respectively) believe that America poses a greater danger to world stability than the so-called rogue states - North Korea, Iran and Syria. Most of the population of Russia, Jordan, Indonesia, South Korea and Brazil consider the USA more dangerous than Syria and Iran. Only Australians and Israelis are not afraid of America. Even the British, America's closest allies, fear Washington more than Damascus.
Respondents from eight countries also had a negative attitude toward the war on international terrorism launched by Washington, as well as toward US peacekeeping activities in the Middle East. The same Australians, Israelis and Britons approve of US foreign policy. At the same time, the poll showed that attitudes toward America and Americans in general have become more positive over recent months. Today, only 40% of the total number of respondents have a negative attitude toward the USA. 81% of surveyed Australians and 64% of Britons are not against the further Americanization of their countries. Residents of other countries want to be like Americans to a much lesser extent.
It is indicative that the actions of the Washington administration continue to be supported by the majority of Americans. Although President Bush's personal rating has changed erratically over the past months. Let us recall that a few weeks before the war with Iraq, President Bush's popularity in the USA fell to 53%. The situation changed dramatically after the fall of Hussein's regime. Then 73% of US residents immediately approved of Bush's actions. Over the past two months, Bush's popularity, according to various polls, has still fallen by 1-2%. However, the overwhelming majority of Americans generally approve of George Bush's actions as president (on average 66%). The majority of Americans at the moment also support the re-election of George Bush for a second presidential term. This is evidenced by data published in Washington from a poll conducted by order of National Public Radio.