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| The United States of dispair |
paraclete |
03/28/05 |
A recent poll has shown concern for the direction the US is headed, where once it was "all the way with LBJ", it's now where they go they go alone. What has cuase America's close ally to stepback and reevaluate?
Our new nightmare: the United States of America
By Tom Allard and Louise Williams
March 29, 2005
Australians are as just as concerned about United States foreign policy as Islamic extremism and regard the US as more dangerous than a rising China, according to a new poll.
The Australians Speak: 2005 survey, commissioned by the Lowy Institute for International Policy, found 57 per cent of Australians were "very worried" or "fairly worried" about the external threat posed by both US foreign policy and Islamic extremism.
"We asked about a series of threats from the outside," said the institute's executive director, Allan Gyngell. "Most startling of all was the precise equivalence of Islamic fundamentalism and US foreign policy as a source of concern.
"The question is whether this is a response to a particular administration or a broader cultural drifting apart."
More than two-thirds - 68 per cent - said Australia took too much notice of the US in its foreign policy deliberations.
The findings would not be welcomed by the Howard Government, which has railed against perceived anti-Americanism and emphasised the importance of the alliance as the US takes a more unilateralist and activist posture in world affairs.
The Lowy Institute found that 72 per cent regarded the US alliance as very important or fairly important. But in another finding, the survey of 1000 people found respondents were strongly opposed to siding with the US over Taiwan should conflict flare between Taipei and Beijing.
Mr Gyngell said he was also very surprised that China rated so positively. Only 35 per cent of respondents had concerns about China's growing power.
"It's not that I thought Australians had a particularly bellicose view on China, but people see opportunities in China, both economically and strategically."
Taiwan is an issue of acute sensitivity at the moment, with tensions escalating with the mainland after China's parliament rubber-stamped a decree warning the province of dire consequences if it declares independence. Asked if they had positive or negative feelings about a list of 15 different countries, institutions and regions, respondents rated the US only 11th, six percentage points ahead of Indonesia, which has traditionally been viewed as a threat by many Australians.
Fifty-eight per cent of those surveyed viewed the US positively, compared with 94 per cent for New Zealand, 86 per cent for Britain, 84 per cent for Japan, and 69 per cent for China.
Fifty-one per cent thought a free-trade agreement with China was a good idea, compared with only 34 per cent for the US deal.
Unfriendly nations acquiring nuclear weapons and global warming were considered more worrying than international terrorism.
Asked about Australian foreign policy goals, most support came for "improving the global environment", with 75 per cent judging it to be "very important".
Protecting jobs and strengthening the economy rated as high, followed by combating terrorism and preventing nuclear proliferation. Promoting democracy rated bottom.
The poll had a margin of error of 3.1 per cent.
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Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 03/30/05 6:06 am:
1935: Nazis threaten to recover their 'rightful' lands. 2005: Chinese Communists threaten to recover their 'rightful' lands. China no threat ? Hey trade with them all you like ;but watch out .They intend to dominate the region .
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Face the facts ;for 100 years Australia lived under Brit protection ;then for 100 years they alligned themselves with the US for the same reason .Can Australia defend themselves and be non-alligned ;or are they now drifiting towards China's sphere of influence ?
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Funny how polls can be interpreted . 58 % positive rating normally means that the majority looks favorably ;that despite the world media smear tactics against the U.S. for many years now.Basically since a lower majority likes America, that must mean that we have a bad image over there. Maybe we need to get a super majority like the Democrats insist we need to get judges appointed .
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Anyway you look at it ;the friendship between Australia and the US will survive long past the current Administrations are gone. When push comes to shove Aussie and American troops will be on the field again watching each other's back.So pass the Fosters and enjoy the company .
Clarification/Follow-up by ETWolverine on 03/30/05 8:33 am:
Paraclete,
>>>doesn't it worry you guys that other nations ask what are they doing that for?<<<
Nope. Not in the least. I understand the issues, having lived with terrorism long before 9-11. What other countries think or don't think doesn't enter the equation for me in deciding what is right.
My question is why it bothers YOU so much what other countries think about what Australia does.
Elliot
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