World seems to want Kerry

2004-10-15 08:53

London - America's reputation around the world is hurting, according to a series of co-ordinated polls published on Friday from 10 countries, including many of the United States' closest allies.

In seven of the countries where the surveys commissioned by major newspapers were conducted, more people said their view of America had worsened over the past two to three years than improved. That question was asked in nine countries.

By big margins, those questioned said the war in Iraq did not aid the global fight against terrorism.

And in eight out of 10 nations, those polled said often in landslide proportions that they hoped to see Democrat John Kerry beat US President George W Bush in next month's election. Bush won backing from a majority of respondents only in Russia and Israel.

The polls were conducted in Canada, France, Britain, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Israel and Russia, with results to be published in the participating newspapers on Friday. Not all questions were asked in every country.

On average, 57% of those questioned said their opinions of America had worsened over the past two to three years, compared to 20% who said their view had improved. That question was asked in nine of the countries, but not in Russia.

Seventy-four percent of Japanese, 70% of French, 64% of Canadians and 60% of Spaniards said they had a worse opinion of America now than two to three years ago.

Only in Israel and South Korea did more people say their view of the United States had improved than worsened in the past two to three years.

Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

In that period, which began just after the September 11 2001 attacks, the United States has led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. While much of the international community backed the invasion to oust the Taliban, Bush's decision to invade Iraq has fueled anger around the world.

However, many of those polled separated their feelings about the US government from their views of the American people. Nearly 68% said they had a favourable opinion of Americans.

Asked whether American democracy remained a model for other nations, 52% of those asked said yes and 42% said no.

In Britain, Mexico and South Korea, more people thought the United States was no longer a model, while in Canada, Russia, Japan and Israel, majorities said it was.

Nearly 59% of people questioned in seven nations including Britain, America's closest ally in Iraq said the war there was not helping the world fight against terrorism, while 35% said it was, as Bush contends.

People in all ten countries were asked who they hoped to see win the White House on November 2, and the result will make Kerry wish they had a vote.

The Democrat was favoured by healthy to enormous majorities in eight of the nations, 72% supported him compared to 16% for Bush in France.

- AP