By Jason Hanna, CNNPew said America's image also dipped in the two other predominantly Muslim nations that were surveyed: Pakistan and Indonesia.
The results of the survey, which was taken between March 21 and April 26, come as U.S. President Barack Obama prepares to deliver on Thursday a highly anticipated address on U.S. policy toward the "Arab Spring" uprisings that have shaken autocratic regimes across North Africa and the Middle East.
It also comes as Obama is urging Israel and the Palestinians to restart negotiations on a two-state solution to their decades-long conflict.
"Many of the concerns that have driven animosity toward the U.S. in recent years are still present – a perception that the U.S. acts unilaterally, opposition to the war on terror, and fears of America as a military threat," a Pew report on the survey said.
Thirteen percent of those surveyed in Jordan had a favorable view of the United States, down from 21% last year. U.S. favorability in Turkey (10%, down from 17%), Pakistan (11%, down from 17%), Indonesia (54%, down from 59%) and Lebanon (49%, down from 52%) also saw dips.
U.S. favorability rose in Egypt (20%, up from 17%) and the Palestinian territories (18%, up from 15% in 2009, the last time a survey was done there).
The percentage of people expressing at least some confidence in Obama was up slightly in Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey, but of the nations surveyed, only Indonesia (62%) – where Obama spent some time as a child – had a majority doing so, Pew said.
And majorities in each surveyed nation, except for Indonesia and Pakistan, said they disapproved how Obama handled calling for political change in the Middle East.
Other findings, according to Pew:
– Most of those surveyed said democracy was preferable to any other kind of government (including more than 70% in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt). The only nation where a majority didn't agree was in Pakistan, where 46% said democracy was preferable.
– Majorities in each surveyed country and territory – except for Egypt, where the questions weren't asked – said economic prosperity, political stability, religious freedom, free elections, free speech and gender equality are very important in a democracy.
– Majorities in Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt believe laws should be based strictly on the teachings of the Quran. This was a minority view in Turkey, Lebanon, Indonesia and the Palestinian territories.
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The reasons why Egyptians and Palestinians are friendlier towards the U.S. must be circumstantial. Mubarak stepped down after his "friends" in Washington dumped him. The military, being on good terms with the U.S. refused to use violence to quell the protests. The critical stance of Obama on the Isreali settlement plans was widely appreciated by the Palestinians and had boosted his popularity.
Now after the raid on Bin Laden's compound on May 2, the Pakistanis loathe the Americans even more for their countless unilateral actions. Viewing the grievances in this country it doesn't surprise me that in the eyes of most Pakistanis democracy only plays second fiddle to – probably – a decent livelihood in peace.
I wonder seeing the recent developments,,,are v approaching another catastrophe,,if not a war...
pakistan,a nuclear state in deep trouble within,,Iran's Nuclear ambition,,middle east's anti-west sentiments, China's rising,,constant tensions on borders of India with China and Pakistan,,recession,,fear of Egypt and other countries being ruled my more extremist islamic ppl....
I think the possibility of a catastrophe cannot be 100 % ruled out...????
What I find difficult to understand is why do people think that America deserves an improved image in the Middle East after what we did to Iraq and Afghanistan? And now look at what we along with our NATO allies are doing currently in Libya. It certainly didn't work in Europe for Germany in 1939 when Hitler decided to invade Poland.
Gee Onesmallvoice,you said it all. Thank you.
Onesmallvoice: It certainly didn't work in Europe for Germany in 1939 when Hitler decided to invade Poland.
It certainly worked for Germany in 1945, did not it? Now if only you remembered that Afghanistan decided to invade the US in 2001...
I am always amazed why the USA keeps beating itself up. Possibly because the rest of the world wants us to do that.
What the Middle East needs to do, is look at the entire world spectrum as a whole, adjust to it, and then get back with us all when it does, else we should isolate and sanction them and have nothing else to do with them!