Muslim Public opinion on Terrorism and U.S. policies
Terrorism is as much detested by the majority of the global Muslim population as is U.S. troop presence in Muslim countries. A recent study of public opinion in predominantly Muslim countries reveals that the population is widely opposed to the use of violence for religious purposes. However, they endorse the Al-Qaeda’s mission to expel U.S. forces and bases from territory of Muslim countries. Here are few interesting figures from the Survey:
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Across eight Muslim publics on average, 66% considered the presence of U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf as a bad idea. The opposition is largest in Egypt (91%) but also considerable in the NATO member state of Turkey (77%)
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From 87% (Egypt) to 62% (Indonesia) of the population believes that the U.S. seeks to weaken and divide the Islamic world.
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Widespread support for involvement of Islamic parties and groups in national politics: 83% in Pakistan, 81% in Indonesia, 53% in Turkey, 50% in Jordan.
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55% in Pakistan and 84% in Egypt disapproved of attacks on civilians in the U.S.
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Significant numbers approved of attacks on U.S. troops based in Muslim countries: 83% of the Egyptians approved of the attacks on U.S. in Iraq.
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According to 36% in Pakistan and 59% in Azerbaijan, the U.s. favors democracy only if the government is cooperative.
Highlighting the general views towards the U.S. the Survey concludes:
Views of the US government continue to be quite negative. The US is widely seen as hypocritically failing to abide by international law, not living up to the role it should play in world affairs, disrespectful of the Muslim people, and using its power in a coercive and unfair fashion.
It is interesting to note that some the most negative responses towards the U.S. have come from countries that are not traditionally considered threatening. This highlights the fact that despite cordial political relations, the Muslim population in many countries is opposed to the U.S. foreign policy strategies. Some of these figure and responses might help the Obama Administration in refurbishing the U.S. policy towards the Muslim world.
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The stats are not surprising. But most of those cpountries are not doing anything about terrrism. They dont want america to interfere but they themselves are sitting on sidelines. If the leading muslim nations like saudi, indonesia, egypt etc take more active role in condoning terrorism and helping out other muslim countries who are struggling iwth it, may be america will not need to intervene. Until then, they dont have much moral right to pass judgement on america who is just trying to protect its safety interests.
Neither could one accept the presence of another country’s soldiers in their own country nor could one accept the presence of another country’s jihadi’s in his own country. Its a game of cat and mouse and its played this way only. So whatever the outcome of the survey amongst the muslim countries, it needs to be compared with the outcome of a similar survey amongst the non-muslim or christian countries. Then probably we could get a better view of the present world situation. Sometimes the cat wins and sometimes the mouse. Both are playing and enjoying the game.
I guess the problem would have been less challenging had America been simply protecting its interests vis-a-vis the menace of terrorism. The ideological mission of establishing the Western liberal order in countries ‘threatened’ by the Islamic law has complicated the problem for all concerned parties. The political dimensions of the U.S. activity in Muslim States seems to be more widely detested rather than merely the strategic issues of defeating terrorism.
I think a survey on religious fundamentalism on both Islam and Christanity would beter help to clarify the position of extremists in each religious sect!
I believe that what ever is going on in the name of war against terrorism did nothing for minimizing it. The day so called war against terrorism started it escalated the security crises in the whole world, therefore, i believe that it is not a matter of any religion or belief but a lobby that longed to be a god. It wishes to monopolize the whole world economic resources. It has already written on the wall that if any body ever tries to share the sovereignty of Allah he will be finished. So let us see who wins? Is Allah or god (America). It is amatter of politics of god vs. politics of Allah. i have no doubt that god has to face music in this wild goose chase sooner or later.
Madhavi you are doing an excellent job in placing burning issues of the world to discuss. It really encourages us to write or share our views with others. Keep it up. May Allah bless you.
I accept that muslims are terrorists if someone give me the reasons and objectives of Gawantanamo bay and Dr.Afia’s arrest purposes and the inhuman torture applied to her.Can UNO & America are blind in this case.Why always Muslim countries are supposed to close their Nuclear Projects,can they have no rights of selfdefense in this cruel world or only the nonMuslim countries have such wrigts.Where are the chemical weapons and factories producing them in Iraq and why these factories & weapons are not revealed to the world after the Iraq war.Why Israeli atrocities are not stopped by the Terrorism defender America.Isn’t it reveals that America only needs the Natural Energy sources of Muslim Countries an dont want to see Muslim Live in the world Independentaly.Tell me if taliban is taged as Terrorists then why not Israel why not India in Kashmir.
The postings by the Mulsims are very depressing. They just can’t accept that they are cruel and wrong in their beliefs and in their deeds. They seem to want t o justify murder and terror at all costs. They just couldn’t be wrong, it’s the other guy. they seem to believe that the mere presence of a foreign force (iinvited ny their own governments in every case with the exception of Iraq) is justification for their criminal behavior. The West can’t negotiate with people like this. There is no hope. There will be ever increasing confrontation untill the West defeats Islam.