Sunday, June 15, 2003;

A global survey that revealed a deepening dislike of the United States across
the Muslim world got a lot of ink and airtime when it was released earlier
this month. And while that finding was striking, it was only one of many
disturbing conclusions of the Pew Global Attitudes Project poll, which surveyed
16,000 people in 20 countries between May 28 and June 15.

The poll results suggest that the United States is losing, or has lost, the
hearts and minds battle -- and that on a variety of issues, citizens of Muslim
countries are deeply suspicious not only of U.S. policies, but of American
motives and intentions. While not as pronounced, distrust among allies -- in
South Korea, Brazil and in EU and NATO countries -- is also striking.

Among the findings: In country after country, respondents expressed not only
anti-Americanism but also fear of U.S. military might. In Indonesia, 74
percent of respondents said they were somewhat or very worried about a potential
U.S. military threat. In Nigeria and Pakistan, the figure was 72 percent; in
Russia -- and in NATO ally Turkey -- 71 percent expressed such fear; in Lebanon,
58 percent; and in Jordan, 56 percent. Even in Kuwait, which was liberated by
the United States in the first Persian Gulf War, 53 percent expressed such
fears.

Concerned? There's more. When asked if they were happy or disappointed that
the Iraqi military put up so little resistance to the United States and its
allies, 93 percent of Moroccans polled said they were disappointed; in Jordan,
the figure was 91 percent; in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia, 82 percent; in the
Palestinian Authority-ruled areas, 81 percent; and in Pakistan, 74 percent.
There was even substantial disappointment in some countries much friendlier to
the United States: South Korea (58 percent), Brazil (50 percent), Russia (45
percent) and France (30 percent). These figures are "just another measure of
hostility toward the United States," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew
Research Center, which conducted the poll.

A sure sign that American public diplomacy is faltering badly in the Muslim
world comes with the finding that overwhelming majorities in several countries
believe the United States "didn't try hard enough" to avoid civilian
casualties in Iraq: In Jordan, 97 percent agreed; Morocco, 91 percent, Turkey, 88
percent, Indonesia, 83 percent, Pakistan 81 percent. Among Palestinians, 95 percent
agreed.

Anti-Americanism translates into declining support for Washington's
anti-terrorism efforts. The goodwill reported after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks is far
from universal. Fewer than a quarter of respondents in Indonesia, Turkey,
Pakistan, Jordan and South Korea said they support the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
Among Palestinians and Jordanians polled, support is a mere 2 percent.

Whom do they support? Osama bin Laden. When asked if they had confidence in
bin Laden "to do the right thing in world affairs," 71 percent of Palestinians
said yes. The figure in Indonesia was 58 percent; in Jordan, 55 percent; in
Morocco, 49 percent; in Pakistan, 45 percent.

In the silver lining department, there was this: Large majorities in most
Muslim countries surveyed said that Western-style democracy could work well in
their countries. In Kuwait, 83 percent of those polled agreed; in Nigeria, 75
percent; in Lebanon, 71 percent; in Jordan, 69 percent; in Morocco, 64 percent;
in Pakistan, 57 percent; in the Palestinian areas, 54 percent; and in Turkey,
generally viewed as the strongest Muslim democracy, 50 percent agreed.

Given last week's deadly back and forth among Israelis and Palestinians, the
response to this query -- Is there a way for the Israeli state and Palestinian
rights to coexist? -- is particularly bad news. While 67 percent of Israelis
said yes, only 17 percent of Palestinians did so. Jordanians (14 percent) were
even more pessimistic. The only Muslim group to broadly answer yes was Arabs
in Israel, (62 percent).
Kathleen Cahill For Outlook.

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