How far down can we sink?

A comment from le rouge et le noir made me think -- just how badly has US prestige and our status as an emblem of peace been shattered by the Bush Administration over the past five-plus years?

Well, a little web-surfing and reading has made it pretty clear. A rather extensive Pew Research poll more than six months ago showed that 83% of people worldwide had a negative opinion of the US (politics, military threat to the world, honesty, fairness to those less "blessed" with resources, etc.) versus only 35% who felt negatively about the US in 2002 -- admittedly thanks in part to the tragedy of 9/11. As shocking as that might seem to some, the real shock is their latest poll.

A poll taken this spring and summer shows that more people worldwide see the US as a bigger threat to world peace than Iran of all countries. Interestingly, even those countries whom we regard as "friendly" to our foreign policies were more worried by a precipitous act by the US than same-same by Iran.

Of course, Republicans continue to ask "what difference does that make as long as we're on the side of right, goodness and God?"

But Democrats rightly ask, "What exactly comprises security from terrorism?" Isn't it important that our allies stand behind us completely -- that is, both the people and their (often totalitarian) governments? Coming to my mind instantly is Saudi Arabia where I spent the decade before the current one. The Saud family backs us to the hilt whereas the people (95% of the population who don't own the oil) distrust us intensely after our continued occupation of Iraq -- especially during the Sunni-Shiite Civil war.

Maybe now is the time to stand back and view our policies from the bigger picture -- that of the entire world of people, nations and (yes, even) governments.

Thank you for the reminder, le rouge et le noir, although I will have to consider the specifics of your comment (the horrific treatment of Lebanon by Israel using US-made military equipment) in a later posting.