Arab-US tensions linger over US policies in region: survey
AFP
Date: 02-22-05
AMMAN (AFP) - Tensions between the Arab world and the United States are not likely to disappear soon amid frustration over US foreign policy and skepticism over US intentions in the Middle East, according to a poll published in Jordan.
The poll was conducted by the University of Jordan's Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) in cooperation with research centers in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and the Palestinian territories between March and June 2004.
A total of 9,700 people were surveyed in those places on how they view France and Britain -- both long-time colonial powers in the region -- and the United States.
"The current conflict is based on deep-seated frustration with Western, and particularly American, foreign policies and a growing distrust of America's underlying regional objectives," according to a copy of the survey received by AFP.
And it warned: "The study provides little evidence that the tensions between the Arab world and the US will soon disappear."
Eighty-six percent of respondents said they were "not satisfied at all" with how the United States is handling the Arab-Israeli conflict, while 75 percent said Washington is not serious about implementing the Middle East "roadmap" for peace.
The roadmap, drafted by the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, envisions on independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace.
On Iraq, a majority said the use of force was "not justified at all" while more than two-thirds said they did not believe the US-led coalition will turn Iraq into a model for democracy in the region.
"In this context, Arabs interpret many groups and actions that the West labels as 'terrorist' as legitimate," namely such organisations at Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian groups Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
The status of Al-Qaeda, Ossama bin Laden's organisation responsible for the September 11 attacks against the United States, was "more controversial".
"Only in Egypt and Jordan did majorities view it as a legitimate resistance organisation," the survey said. In Syria eight percent described it as a "legitimate organisation" while 49 percent did not answer the question.
France fared better than the United States and Britain in Arab opinion.
Only 25 percent of national sample respondents in Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Egypt said they felt "highly positive" or "moderately positive" towards the United States and Britain compared to 57 percent "who felt positively toward France".
In Syria, 75 percent of respondents perceived the United States as "not at all positive"
"In the final analysis the US and the UK have reason to be concerned about the demographic and political trends in the region," where half the population is under 25, the survey said.
"The younger generation and individuals outside of elite business and media circles demonstrate high levels of dissatisfaction with these Western powers," it added.
Source
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
|