Foreign Affairs magazine conducted a survey recently on "Public Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy:
Quote:
A general finding:
Americans are looking out on a world where they see growing dangers, few solutions and little in U.S. foreign policy that seems to be working. ... Our first indicator shows that public anxiety on international affairs is at high levels (a score of 130 on a 200-point scale), enough to show a deep dissatisfaction with current policies.
On Islam, terrorism and the Middle East:
On the plus side, the public gives the government good grades on some elements of the war on terror. Some 56 percent assign the government an "A" or "B" grade for giving the war on terror the attention it deserves, and 47 percent give high grades for hunting down terrorists.
There has been an increase in the number of those who say they worry a lot about the rise of Islamic extremism, from 31 percent in January to 38 percent now, and only 18 percent say they don't worry about it at all. Fifty percent of Americans say at least half of the world's Muslims are anti-American.
But although worry is up, the public has doubts about our ability to solve the problem. Only 1 in 5 Americans (19%) gives the United States an "A" or "B" grade for "having good relations and reputation with Muslim countries," while twice as many (39%) give a "D" or "F." Nearly three-quarters worry that our actions in the Middle East are aiding the recruitment of terrorists, with 37 percent saying they worry "a lot." That's up four points since January. (The survey was in the field before the controversy over a National Intelligence Estimate concluding that the war in Iraq has led to increased jihadist recruitment.)
About half the public (53%) say "improved communication and dialogue with the Muslim world will reduce hatred of the U.S." Yet only 36 percent say "establishing good relations with moderate Muslims" is something the government can do a lot about. Few believe "doing more to help Muslim countries develop economically" would help the nation's security a great deal (20%, down from 27% in June 2005).
http://www.confidenceinforeignpolicy...cy_mideast.htm
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What is most striking is the finding that "nearly three-quarters worry that our actions in the Middle East are aiding the recruitment of terrorists."
If that overwhelming majority of Americans surveyed feel that our policies are aiding the recruitment of terrorists, isnt it logical that moderate muslims around the world would have the same sentiment?
I would put myself among the 53% who believe that "improved communication and dialogue with the Muslim world will reduce hatred of the U.S."
There is no guarantee of success and certainly nothing we, or any outsiders do will have an immediate impact, but IMO, dialogue and a change in policy would be a step in the right direction.