An interresting review about the USA & the world
 

I read this review a few minutes ago and I found it interresting. The results aren't really surprising from an european point of view.

Any comments?

Not terribly suprising from here either. But...France has the hots for Angela Merkel?

People around the world who have been paying attention to the American election express more confidence in Barack Obama than in John McCain to do the right thing regarding world affairs. And so.. umm... what do you non-Americans think is "the right thing regarding world affairs" that Obama will (or be able to) do?


Who can believe anything Obama says? ...sheesh... check out this very minor blip on the radar:

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/0/
For the Canadians, a key point of concern was Obama's sharp criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement. DeMora wrote Wilson that in the Chicago meeting, Goolsbee "candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged, particularly in the Midwest, during the primary campaign" but reassured Rioux that Obama's NAFTA-bashing "should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans." Three weeks later, Canada's CTV News reported that a "senior member" of Obama's campaign had phoned Wilson personally to advise him to "not be worried about what Obama says about NAFTA." The Obama campaign denied that story, which (if you believe DeMora's account) was only slightly off the mark, and declined to elaborate. On March 3 the Associated Press released the DeMora memo, which by then had circulated widely within the Canadian government. Asked once again to comment, Obama said his campaign provided Canada no such reassurance while Goolsbee maintained that DeMora "misinterpreted" his comments. For its part, the Chicago consulate smoothed things over with a statement saying, "there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private." It looks like President Obama may owe one to our friendly neighbors to the north.

Interesting, thanks for posting that. A few comments:

1. I don't understand from this study whether the negative view of America as to the financial aspects is that "I don't like America because it is ruining our economy and it's their fault" or "I am frustrated that my economy is harmed by the US but I don't blame them." If it's the former, don't blame us. Trust me, we don't like having a bad economy either.

2. I find it unsurprising that the most liberal countries (Western Europe) strongly favor Obama. This has been the case since Reagan. Regardless, very few Americans vote based on foreign policy implications; most vote based on likability, their pocketbooks, and certain moral issues.

3. The drop in favorability in Japan for the US is remarkable -- it's enormous when you consider the likelihood that the percentages aren't likely to fall below 20% or rise above 80%. I have no idea why that would be, especially when seen in conjunction with Japanese statistics showing China as a much greater influence. In other words, the important of China I would have expected to moderate movement; maybe that's actually causal rather than correlative.

These kinds of studies are fascinating.

She actually manage to keep a COALITION government in order... That's unbelievable from a french point of view. It just CANNOT happen here.

jjcruiser, I think it's more "I don't like America because it is ruining our economy and it's their fault"

All in all, when the crap hits the fan, who does the world call upon to "fix it"?

Sorry, Kenzan-san, it's not you... http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif But, you're a close second, sempai! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

They call the US Military. And for good reason! They Get The Job Done!http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/evil.gif

Troll spotted!

"Troll", moi?!? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/eek.gif

Surely you jest, Sparv-san!

Is it so hard to believe that there's Americans who don't loathe the military?

No, it was just too easy, obvious and tempting.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...mbarrassed.gif

Nice.... http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif

favorable views of america by the south koreans rose from 58% (2007) to 70% (2008)?...boy you certainly don't get that feeling living here, especially with the recent beef import issue...

pew is a very respectable group...not sure whether to believe their report or to believe what the mood on the ground here in korea is...

It really doesn't matter.
We'll all be speaking Mandarin in 15 years anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil

They get the job done? Just in case you weren’t paying attention I’ll give you the play by play.
Korea: ball one. Vietnam: strike one. Eagle claw: strike two. Grenada: foul tip. Panama: Foul tip into the catcher’s mask. Desert shield/ storm: ball two. Somalia: Strike three! You’re out! Next at bat. Bosnia: Foul tip. US embassies in Africa, USS Cole, 9/11: fast ball down the center. Afghanistan: Strike three. Next up at bat… Iraq revisited: swing and a miss!
Nobody calls us because we don’t do jobs. If we did, things like Rwanda and Darfur wouldn’t happen. We don’t fight wars to win them. Get a clue.

Ni hoa ma?

Wo bu ming bai Kenzanhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/confused.gif

Good point.... but let's take a trip further back.

Try WWI... double play. WWII (European Theater)... two hits. WWII (Pacific Theater... Grand Slam home run PLUS two more on base. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

60 some-odd years ago... Two generations back (and then some). Things have changed.

GHOSTBUSTERS!!


da da der der..der der
da da der der der............

Hey I picked a good handle then!http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif

"Dogs and Cats Living Together In Sin!!!" (Bill Murray) http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif