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A Worldwide Tide of Anti-Bush Feeling
(William Schneider, The Atlantic Online, March 18, 2003)
What's behind the strong public opposition in so many countries? Is it primarily anti-American, anti-war, or anti-Bush? James Harding, who has worked all over the world for the Financial Times and is currently its Washington bureau chief, answers this way: "Essentially, it's anti-Bush.... The same thing that has been paraded as one of Bush's great qualities—his moral clarity—is something that worries Europeans who think the world is a bit too complicated for black-and-white solutions." . . . What seems like moral clarity to Americans comes across as moral certainty to Europeans. And they think it's dangerous. "There is something alarming to many Europeans about the idea that [Bush and Blair] are preparing for war, and wrapping themselves in a mantle of religiosity and invoking God as they do," Harding said. . . . Blair is a churchgoer, something unusual for a British leader. And that makes Europeans twitchy. "About two and a half weeks ago, Blair was asked by an interviewer, 'So, do you and President Bush pray together?' " Harding recounted, adding, "It wasn't a question. It was an accusation." For the record, Blair answered with a nervous laugh, "No, we don't." . . . The Italian government supports the Bush administration, but the Italian people don't—85 percent oppose military action (SWG Organization). How about Japan? Nope. Eighty-four percent are opposed (Mainichi Shimbun). What about Israel? It's a good bet that Bush should find support in Israel. But the latest poll by the newspaper Ma'ariv shows Israelis wavering: 45 percent say they support an immediate U.S.-led attack on Iraq, down from 51 percent two weeks ago. And 49 percent of Israelis say the U.N. inspectors should be allowed to continue their work. . . . If Americans feel alone going into this war, there's a reason for it. They are.

posted by LoZo 4:54 PM