Jung Rhee
03-28-2005, 11:49 AM
Australians view U.S. as a threat to peace
America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only 58 percent felt the same way about the United States.
.
The 53-year-old U.S.-Australia alliance, or ANZUS, is one of Washington's strategic anchors in the Pacific. But the ambivalence of popular opinion in Australia toward the United States shows the difficulty ahead in an administration project in public perceptions.
.
In March, President George W. Bush tapped a long-time confidante and former White House counselor, Karen Hughes, for the job of transforming America's image in the Arab world. The results of the Australian survey suggest that the problem facing the new under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs goes well beyond the Middle East; even close allies might need some attention.
.
While Australia, a predominantly Christian, Anglo-Saxon country, has a lot of cultural affinities with the United States, analysts say the historically close relationship, which has seen Australians alongside American soldiers in Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf wars, has become a harder sell during the Bush presidency.
.
"There is quite a big disconnect between how the world views Bush and how the Americans view Bush," says Don Russell, Australia's ambassador to Washington between 1993 and 1995.
.
"If you did a similar poll during the Clinton years," he said, "you would get a cyclical high, and now you have a cyclical low."
.
The findings of the opinion poll, commissioned by the Lowy Institute, a research institute with a generally center-right orientation, suggest that one of the main reasons for the lack of popularity of America in Australia is the perceived influence that Washington exercises over Australian foreign policy. The poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents felt "we take too much notice of the views of the United States."
.
The Lowy Institute says it modeled the poll on the work of the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Institute. It was based on interviews with 1,000 Australians and had a 3.1 percent margin of error. The results can be found at: www.lowyinstitute.org.
.
The war in Iraq appears to be one of the strongest points of disagreement Australians have with U.S. policy. Before the war, when Australia's prime minister, John Howard, made clear his intention to send troops in support of the United States, he was lampooned by critics as the "deputy sheriff," and Australia had its biggest street demonstrations since Vietnam.
.
According to other recent polls, there has been a slight increase in support for Australia's involvement in Iraq, although a small majority is still against the presence of Australian troops there. Howard recently attracted renewed public ire for reneging on an election promise not to commit more troops to Iraq.
.
The conflict in Iraq might also be contributing to perceptions that U.S. foreign policy is a potential threat: 57 percent of Australians rated U.S. policy as a threat equal to Islamic fundamentalism.
.
The poll results are a surprise to many because the American-Australian relationship has long been considered special by political leaders, liberal and conservative, in both countries.
.
The special nature of the relationship extends to intelligence sharing and defense. The United States operates one of its most critical intelligence eavesdropping stations in the Australian outback, and in exchange Australia has access to virtually all of American intelligence.
.
In the 1960s, Australia decided against developing its own nuclear weapons in exchange for a U.S. promise to defend the country in the event of attack.
.
"I have spent most of my adult life working on aspects of Australian foreign policy, and I have to say that the results of the survey have jolted some of my assumptions and challenged some of the things I've written about what Australians think," said Allan Gyngell, executive director of the Lowy Institute.
.
"One immediate lesson is that supporters of the Australia-U.S. relationship have a much bigger job to do in bringing the community along with them," he added. "That rebuilding certainly involves, among other things, increasing the level of understanding and analysis of the United States in Australia."
.
Despite the concerns about U.S. policy, Australians remain overwhelmingly in support of the ANZUS alliance, which includes New Zealand, and are worried about many of the same threats as Americans. Only 50 percent of those polled are optimistic about the country's future security. Their greatest fear is that "unfriendly countries" may develop nuclear weapons, a reflection of their proximity to North Korea.
.
Australian intelligence agencies also believe that a "dirty bomb" attack, in Australia or the United States, is highly likely in the next 5 to 10 years, an Australian official said recently.
.
Against the background of those security fears, the Lowy Institute poll found that 72 percent said the alliance was either "very important" or "fairly important." A majority of those with a negative view backed the alliance.
.
"I don't think the poll signals a fundamental reassessment of where our strategic interests lie," says Russell, who was a senior adviser to a former prime minister, Paul Keating. "It just reveals a level of unease among Australians about the current leadership of the U.S."
.
But if Australians are feeling more ambivalent about America, their attitude to the economic powerhouses of East Asia is surprisingly warm, suggesting economic interests outrank old strategic friendship in the popularity stakes.
.
Australians are surprisingly sanguine about the emergence of China. Only 35 percent of Australians thought China's growing power was a threat.
.
Even on trade, China was ranked as a more attractive partner, A free trade agreement with America was viewed as good for Australia by only 34 percent of respondents. A similar deal with China won majority support, 51 percent.
.
In case of a U.S.-China war over Taiwan, there were limits on how far Australia should go in support of the alliance. Seventy-two percent were against coming to the aid of the United States.
.
.
Raymond Bonner reported for The New York Times and Donald Greenlees for the International Herald Tribune.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only 58 percent felt the same way about the United States.
.
The 53-year-old U.S.-Australia alliance, or ANZUS, is one of Washington's strategic anchors in the Pacific. But the ambivalence of popular opinion in Australia toward the United States shows the difficulty ahead in an administration project in public perceptions.
.
In March, President George W. Bush tapped a long-time confidante and former White House counselor, Karen Hughes, for the job of transforming America's image in the Arab world. The results of the Australian survey suggest that the problem facing the new under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs goes well beyond the Middle East; even close allies might need some attention.
.
While Australia, a predominantly Christian, Anglo-Saxon country, has a lot of cultural affinities with the United States, analysts say the historically close relationship, which has seen Australians alongside American soldiers in Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf wars, has become a harder sell during the Bush presidency.
.
"There is quite a big disconnect between how the world views Bush and how the Americans view Bush," says Don Russell, Australia's ambassador to Washington between 1993 and 1995.
.
"If you did a similar poll during the Clinton years," he said, "you would get a cyclical high, and now you have a cyclical low."
.
The findings of the opinion poll, commissioned by the Lowy Institute, a research institute with a generally center-right orientation, suggest that one of the main reasons for the lack of popularity of America in Australia is the perceived influence that Washington exercises over Australian foreign policy. The poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents felt "we take too much notice of the views of the United States."
.
The Lowy Institute says it modeled the poll on the work of the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Institute. It was based on interviews with 1,000 Australians and had a 3.1 percent margin of error. The results can be found at: www.lowyinstitute.org.
.
The war in Iraq appears to be one of the strongest points of disagreement Australians have with U.S. policy. Before the war, when Australia's prime minister, John Howard, made clear his intention to send troops in support of the United States, he was lampooned by critics as the "deputy sheriff," and Australia had its biggest street demonstrations since Vietnam.
.
According to other recent polls, there has been a slight increase in support for Australia's involvement in Iraq, although a small majority is still against the presence of Australian troops there. Howard recently attracted renewed public ire for reneging on an election promise not to commit more troops to Iraq.
.
The conflict in Iraq might also be contributing to perceptions that U.S. foreign policy is a potential threat: 57 percent of Australians rated U.S. policy as a threat equal to Islamic fundamentalism.
.
The poll results are a surprise to many because the American-Australian relationship has long been considered special by political leaders, liberal and conservative, in both countries.
.
The special nature of the relationship extends to intelligence sharing and defense. The United States operates one of its most critical intelligence eavesdropping stations in the Australian outback, and in exchange Australia has access to virtually all of American intelligence.
.
In the 1960s, Australia decided against developing its own nuclear weapons in exchange for a U.S. promise to defend the country in the event of attack.
.
"I have spent most of my adult life working on aspects of Australian foreign policy, and I have to say that the results of the survey have jolted some of my assumptions and challenged some of the things I've written about what Australians think," said Allan Gyngell, executive director of the Lowy Institute.
.
"One immediate lesson is that supporters of the Australia-U.S. relationship have a much bigger job to do in bringing the community along with them," he added. "That rebuilding certainly involves, among other things, increasing the level of understanding and analysis of the United States in Australia."
.
Despite the concerns about U.S. policy, Australians remain overwhelmingly in support of the ANZUS alliance, which includes New Zealand, and are worried about many of the same threats as Americans. Only 50 percent of those polled are optimistic about the country's future security. Their greatest fear is that "unfriendly countries" may develop nuclear weapons, a reflection of their proximity to North Korea.
.
Australian intelligence agencies also believe that a "dirty bomb" attack, in Australia or the United States, is highly likely in the next 5 to 10 years, an Australian official said recently.
.
Against the background of those security fears, the Lowy Institute poll found that 72 percent said the alliance was either "very important" or "fairly important." A majority of those with a negative view backed the alliance.
.
"I don't think the poll signals a fundamental reassessment of where our strategic interests lie," says Russell, who was a senior adviser to a former prime minister, Paul Keating. "It just reveals a level of unease among Australians about the current leadership of the U.S."
.
But if Australians are feeling more ambivalent about America, their attitude to the economic powerhouses of East Asia is surprisingly warm, suggesting economic interests outrank old strategic friendship in the popularity stakes.
.
Australians are surprisingly sanguine about the emergence of China. Only 35 percent of Australians thought China's growing power was a threat.
.
Even on trade, China was ranked as a more attractive partner, A free trade agreement with America was viewed as good for Australia by only 34 percent of respondents. A similar deal with China won majority support, 51 percent.
.
In case of a U.S.-China war over Taiwan, there were limits on how far Australia should go in support of the alliance. Seventy-two percent were against coming to the aid of the United States.
.
.
Raymond Bonner reported for The New York Times and Donald Greenlees for the International Herald Tribune.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only ...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/28/news/australia.html
America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only 58 percent felt the same way about the United States.
.
The 53-year-old U.S.-Australia alliance, or ANZUS, is one of Washington's strategic anchors in the Pacific. But the ambivalence of popular opinion in Australia toward the United States shows the difficulty ahead in an administration project in public perceptions.
.
In March, President George W. Bush tapped a long-time confidante and former White House counselor, Karen Hughes, for the job of transforming America's image in the Arab world. The results of the Australian survey suggest that the problem facing the new under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs goes well beyond the Middle East; even close allies might need some attention.
.
While Australia, a predominantly Christian, Anglo-Saxon country, has a lot of cultural affinities with the United States, analysts say the historically close relationship, which has seen Australians alongside American soldiers in Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf wars, has become a harder sell during the Bush presidency.
.
"There is quite a big disconnect between how the world views Bush and how the Americans view Bush," says Don Russell, Australia's ambassador to Washington between 1993 and 1995.
.
"If you did a similar poll during the Clinton years," he said, "you would get a cyclical high, and now you have a cyclical low."
.
The findings of the opinion poll, commissioned by the Lowy Institute, a research institute with a generally center-right orientation, suggest that one of the main reasons for the lack of popularity of America in Australia is the perceived influence that Washington exercises over Australian foreign policy. The poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents felt "we take too much notice of the views of the United States."
.
The Lowy Institute says it modeled the poll on the work of the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Institute. It was based on interviews with 1,000 Australians and had a 3.1 percent margin of error. The results can be found at: www.lowyinstitute.org.
.
The war in Iraq appears to be one of the strongest points of disagreement Australians have with U.S. policy. Before the war, when Australia's prime minister, John Howard, made clear his intention to send troops in support of the United States, he was lampooned by critics as the "deputy sheriff," and Australia had its biggest street demonstrations since Vietnam.
.
According to other recent polls, there has been a slight increase in support for Australia's involvement in Iraq, although a small majority is still against the presence of Australian troops there. Howard recently attracted renewed public ire for reneging on an election promise not to commit more troops to Iraq.
.
The conflict in Iraq might also be contributing to perceptions that U.S. foreign policy is a potential threat: 57 percent of Australians rated U.S. policy as a threat equal to Islamic fundamentalism.
.
The poll results are a surprise to many because the American-Australian relationship has long been considered special by political leaders, liberal and conservative, in both countries.
.
The special nature of the relationship extends to intelligence sharing and defense. The United States operates one of its most critical intelligence eavesdropping stations in the Australian outback, and in exchange Australia has access to virtually all of American intelligence.
.
In the 1960s, Australia decided against developing its own nuclear weapons in exchange for a U.S. promise to defend the country in the event of attack.
.
"I have spent most of my adult life working on aspects of Australian foreign policy, and I have to say that the results of the survey have jolted some of my assumptions and challenged some of the things I've written about what Australians think," said Allan Gyngell, executive director of the Lowy Institute.
.
"One immediate lesson is that supporters of the Australia-U.S. relationship have a much bigger job to do in bringing the community along with them," he added. "That rebuilding certainly involves, among other things, increasing the level of understanding and analysis of the United States in Australia."
.
Despite the concerns about U.S. policy, Australians remain overwhelmingly in support of the ANZUS alliance, which includes New Zealand, and are worried about many of the same threats as Americans. Only 50 percent of those polled are optimistic about the country's future security. Their greatest fear is that "unfriendly countries" may develop nuclear weapons, a reflection of their proximity to North Korea.
.
Australian intelligence agencies also believe that a "dirty bomb" attack, in Australia or the United States, is highly likely in the next 5 to 10 years, an Australian official said recently.
.
Against the background of those security fears, the Lowy Institute poll found that 72 percent said the alliance was either "very important" or "fairly important." A majority of those with a negative view backed the alliance.
.
"I don't think the poll signals a fundamental reassessment of where our strategic interests lie," says Russell, who was a senior adviser to a former prime minister, Paul Keating. "It just reveals a level of unease among Australians about the current leadership of the U.S."
.
But if Australians are feeling more ambivalent about America, their attitude to the economic powerhouses of East Asia is surprisingly warm, suggesting economic interests outrank old strategic friendship in the popularity stakes.
.
Australians are surprisingly sanguine about the emergence of China. Only 35 percent of Australians thought China's growing power was a threat.
.
Even on trade, China was ranked as a more attractive partner, A free trade agreement with America was viewed as good for Australia by only 34 percent of respondents. A similar deal with China won majority support, 51 percent.
.
In case of a U.S.-China war over Taiwan, there were limits on how far Australia should go in support of the alliance. Seventy-two percent were against coming to the aid of the United States.
.
.
Raymond Bonner reported for The New York Times and Donald Greenlees for the International Herald Tribune.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only 58 percent felt the same way about the United States.
.
The 53-year-old U.S.-Australia alliance, or ANZUS, is one of Washington's strategic anchors in the Pacific. But the ambivalence of popular opinion in Australia toward the United States shows the difficulty ahead in an administration project in public perceptions.
.
In March, President George W. Bush tapped a long-time confidante and former White House counselor, Karen Hughes, for the job of transforming America's image in the Arab world. The results of the Australian survey suggest that the problem facing the new under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs goes well beyond the Middle East; even close allies might need some attention.
.
While Australia, a predominantly Christian, Anglo-Saxon country, has a lot of cultural affinities with the United States, analysts say the historically close relationship, which has seen Australians alongside American soldiers in Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf wars, has become a harder sell during the Bush presidency.
.
"There is quite a big disconnect between how the world views Bush and how the Americans view Bush," says Don Russell, Australia's ambassador to Washington between 1993 and 1995.
.
"If you did a similar poll during the Clinton years," he said, "you would get a cyclical high, and now you have a cyclical low."
.
The findings of the opinion poll, commissioned by the Lowy Institute, a research institute with a generally center-right orientation, suggest that one of the main reasons for the lack of popularity of America in Australia is the perceived influence that Washington exercises over Australian foreign policy. The poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents felt "we take too much notice of the views of the United States."
.
The Lowy Institute says it modeled the poll on the work of the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Institute. It was based on interviews with 1,000 Australians and had a 3.1 percent margin of error. The results can be found at: www.lowyinstitute.org.
.
The war in Iraq appears to be one of the strongest points of disagreement Australians have with U.S. policy. Before the war, when Australia's prime minister, John Howard, made clear his intention to send troops in support of the United States, he was lampooned by critics as the "deputy sheriff," and Australia had its biggest street demonstrations since Vietnam.
.
According to other recent polls, there has been a slight increase in support for Australia's involvement in Iraq, although a small majority is still against the presence of Australian troops there. Howard recently attracted renewed public ire for reneging on an election promise not to commit more troops to Iraq.
.
The conflict in Iraq might also be contributing to perceptions that U.S. foreign policy is a potential threat: 57 percent of Australians rated U.S. policy as a threat equal to Islamic fundamentalism.
.
The poll results are a surprise to many because the American-Australian relationship has long been considered special by political leaders, liberal and conservative, in both countries.
.
The special nature of the relationship extends to intelligence sharing and defense. The United States operates one of its most critical intelligence eavesdropping stations in the Australian outback, and in exchange Australia has access to virtually all of American intelligence.
.
In the 1960s, Australia decided against developing its own nuclear weapons in exchange for a U.S. promise to defend the country in the event of attack.
.
"I have spent most of my adult life working on aspects of Australian foreign policy, and I have to say that the results of the survey have jolted some of my assumptions and challenged some of the things I've written about what Australians think," said Allan Gyngell, executive director of the Lowy Institute.
.
"One immediate lesson is that supporters of the Australia-U.S. relationship have a much bigger job to do in bringing the community along with them," he added. "That rebuilding certainly involves, among other things, increasing the level of understanding and analysis of the United States in Australia."
.
Despite the concerns about U.S. policy, Australians remain overwhelmingly in support of the ANZUS alliance, which includes New Zealand, and are worried about many of the same threats as Americans. Only 50 percent of those polled are optimistic about the country's future security. Their greatest fear is that "unfriendly countries" may develop nuclear weapons, a reflection of their proximity to North Korea.
.
Australian intelligence agencies also believe that a "dirty bomb" attack, in Australia or the United States, is highly likely in the next 5 to 10 years, an Australian official said recently.
.
Against the background of those security fears, the Lowy Institute poll found that 72 percent said the alliance was either "very important" or "fairly important." A majority of those with a negative view backed the alliance.
.
"I don't think the poll signals a fundamental reassessment of where our strategic interests lie," says Russell, who was a senior adviser to a former prime minister, Paul Keating. "It just reveals a level of unease among Australians about the current leadership of the U.S."
.
But if Australians are feeling more ambivalent about America, their attitude to the economic powerhouses of East Asia is surprisingly warm, suggesting economic interests outrank old strategic friendship in the popularity stakes.
.
Australians are surprisingly sanguine about the emergence of China. Only 35 percent of Australians thought China's growing power was a threat.
.
Even on trade, China was ranked as a more attractive partner, A free trade agreement with America was viewed as good for Australia by only 34 percent of respondents. A similar deal with China won majority support, 51 percent.
.
In case of a U.S.-China war over Taiwan, there were limits on how far Australia should go in support of the alliance. Seventy-two percent were against coming to the aid of the United States.
.
.
Raymond Bonner reported for The New York Times and Donald Greenlees for the International Herald Tribune.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article America lags behind Japan and China in popularity, poll finds
SYDNEY U.S. foreign policy poses as big a threat to world peace as Islamic fundamentalism, while the rise of China is the last on a list of potential threats, according to a survey released Monday of public opinion in Australia, one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific.
.
The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country that has been a close and valued ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq have surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.
.
The survey - the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations - shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity. Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only ...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/28/news/australia.html