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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>From today’s (October 16, 2004) –<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>----------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Polls show <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
image is slipping <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Majority of foreigners polled like Americans, dislike Bush<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>By Beth Gardiner<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Associated Press<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>October 16, 2004<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>LONDON</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> – <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
popularity around the world has taken a beating in recent years, according to a
set of coordinated polls conducted in 10 different countries. But the survey
also found that despite widespread animosity toward President Bush, huge
majorities said they have a good opinion of Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"We like Americans, we don't like Bush," was how <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
Guardian newspaper summarized the results of the surveys published Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The polls found that to an overwhelming degree, respondents
in most of the countries have a more negative view of the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> now than a few years ago,
disapprove of the war in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and dislike Bush. Democratic challenger John Kerry is favored – often by
landslide proportions – in all but two of the nations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>But even in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
often seen as a bastion of anti-Americanism, 72 percent said they had a
favorable view of Americans, compared to 24 percent with an unfavorable opinion,
the poll found.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The polls, commissioned by major papers in each country,
were conducted in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Not all questions were asked in every country.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On average, 57 percent said they had a worse opinion of the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
than two to three years ago, compared to 20 percent who said they had a higher
opinion now. That question was asked in each country except <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In eight of the nations, more people said their view of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> had
worsened than improved. Seventy-four percent of Japanese, 70 percent of French,
67 percent of South Koreans, 64 percent of Canadians and 60 percent of
Spaniards said they had a lower opinion of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> now than a few years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Only in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
– whose prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has won strong backing from Bush
– did more people say their view of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> had improved than
worsened, by a margin of 40 percent to 26 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Americans – the people, not the government – can
feel well-loved, maybe because foreigners so happily soak up <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> movies, TV
and music and frequent McDonald's and Starbucks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Overall, 68 percent of those questioned said they had a
favorable opinion of Americans, compared to 23 percent with a negative view.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Eighty-six percent of Russians, 81 percent of Israelis, 74
percent of Japanese and 73 percent of Canadians reported positive views of
Americans. The lowest figure was in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where 47 percent said they
had a positive view and 32 percent negative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In nine countries, huge majorities said they had an
unfavorable opinion of Bush, whom critics accuse of conducting a unilateralist
foreign policy that disregards the views of other nations, even close friends.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The president may not be bothered by the results – he
says he makes decisions for the good of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> even if they make him
unpopular overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>People in all 10 countries were asked who they hoped to see
win the White House Nov. 2. Kerry was favored in eight of the nations including
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
where 72 percent supported him compared to 16 percent for Bush.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region>,
it was 68 percent for Kerry and 18 percent for Bush; in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, 60 percent to 20 percent; in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, 58 percent to 13 percent; 54 percent to
28 percent in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>; and
50 percent to 22 percent in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Bush came out on top in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
by a margin of 50 percent to 24 percent and in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, 52 percent to 48 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>,
68 percent of people – majorities in seven out of eight countries –
said the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
was wrong to invade, while 25 percent thought war was the right decision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In an Associated Press poll this fall, a majority surveyed
in eight countries said they believed the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> war has increased the threat
of terrorism. Just over half of respondents in the United States and two-thirds
or more of respondents in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Mexico and Spain said they believed Iraq has increased the terrorist threat,
according to the AP-Ipsos polls.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The newspapers involved in the polling published Friday were
La Presse in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, Le
Monde in <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, the
Guardian in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region>, El Pais
in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, Asahi Shimbun in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, JoongAng Ilbo in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region>, the Sydney Morning Herald and
Melbourne Age in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>,
Reforma in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, Haaretz
in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the Moscow
News in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The sample sizes in the 10 polls varied from 522 people in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> to 1,417 in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Margins of error were
mostly around 3 percentage points, but varied between 2.6 percent and 4.38
percent. The polls were conducted on different dates from September through
early October.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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