The picture that emerges here is conclusively clear. In virtually every area of the world ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ overwhelming majorities of people viewed the U.S. favorably prior to the Bush presidency. But in virtually every single country in each of those regions, the percentage which now views the U.S. favorably has collapsed, and is now confined only to minorities, often tiny minorities. The precipitous drop in U.S. credibility ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ from levels of great respect to levels of widespread contempt ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ is as stark among America’s traditional allies as it is in less friendly regions. Contrary to claims found among both America’s right and some on Europe’s left, the U.S. enjoyed great moral credibility among its Western European allies prior to the Bush presidency.
July 6, 2007 5:29 AM