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Time For Change

Imran Khan - 11/15/2006

At the end of October an opinion poll (Just before the mid-term elections in US) was conducted in the 4 closest allies of United States of America including Great Britain, Canada, Mexico and Israel. Leading newspapers La Presse (Canada), The Toronto Star (Canada), Haaretz (Israel), Reforma (Mexico) and The Guardian (Great Britain) conducted the poll in respective countries. A thousand people from these countries were surveyed. The results were very surprising.

In reply to a question about the most dangerous person for the world peace Mexicans and British ranked President Bush 2 nd most dangerous. Osama Bin Laden has been declared as most dangerous person by Britons, Canadians, Mexicans and Mahmud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran by Israelis. Others in the list were Kim Jong-il of North Korea and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. North Korea and Iran, which were once called as 'Axis of Evil' by President Bush and he warned the entire world to be aware of their evils. Unbelievably now people in most friendly countries have ranked him with them and even considering more dangerous.

The war against Iraq has proven to be the biggest blow to United States and its president reputation as 89% in Mexico, 73% in Canada and 71% in Great Britain believed it was not justified. On the issue of Bush's foreign policy 69% British, 62% Canadians, and 57% Mexicans thought has made the world less safe.

Around the world opinion polls on different things are often carried out by different organizations. Though these kinds of opinion Polls don't abide to bring any changes in policies but often represents the true picture of the thoughts of the whole community. Modern polls have a very good accuracy record and results in this poll are considered accurate within 3% percentage points.

The chosen countries and results of this opinion poll have made it more significant. These countries have great relations with United States and there is no such big difference visible in foreign policies of these countries. If people in such close countries don't like US policies what would have been the situation if these questions were asked in other countries especially in any Muslim countries? That's not hard to imagine.

Only outside world is not disagreeing with Mr. Bush policies but the Americans also disapprove them and it was visible in US mid term elections as Democrats have taken the majority in US Congress and in Senate. Infect defeat of Republican Party was predicted in opinion polls before the elections which proved exactly right. Approval rating of Mr. Bush in home is also very low at 36%. It clearly shows that People are not happy with what's going on.

Why there is growing anger in the world about current US policies? The fact is the USA under the current presidency has tried to work all the time on its own and shown angry face to the world. The real proof was of Iraqi invasion where almost all the world was opposing such action. But United States carried out the attack. The bush administration halted the direct talks with North Korea in 2002. Many experts repeatedly advised US government to hold direct talks with North Korea. North Korea also made several attempts to make it possible. But 'no' was the reply from President Bush as he thought it was better to avoid it. Eventually North Korea carried out the Nuclear Test in October. Many experts believe it would have been averted if US would have talked with North Korea. The situation is identical in the case of Iran also. Despite of many proposals from Iran for direct talks, US administration remains firm in its view to not to hold direct talks with Iran. Things have not been solved by not talking and by not listening; it's quite likely the situation will become more complex in future. Unfortunately President Bush and American administration remained strict on their agenda only while ignoring any other views whether they were from inside USA or any where else. By not listening to others has made all the things worst for US administration and that has created anger within and outside USA.

Now alarming thing is that within US and countries such as Great Britain, Canada and Mexico where people supported US policies at start are now showing mistrust. American administration can not ignore the growing hatred about its policies for long time. A poll may not change the on going policies of such close countries but still the real power remains in the hands of the people who eventually elect the future governments. Now in England also there is growing pressure on Tony Blair's government for following US policies. War against Iraq has become a major issue in UK also.

The current US government has received a big knockout punch in recent elections and now it is the time to think about a change and to listen what others are saying. 'You can't be right every time' and it has been proven. Still if it is not done by the US administration, certainly things will be more and more difficult for them in coming future.