World Opinion Roundup

Online News From Around The World

In his weekly show, washingtonpost.com staff writer Jefferson Morley conducts a freewheeling tour of the best of Internet news sites from Afghanistan to Beijing to Mexico City to Paris to Zimbabwe.

Read today's column:Kerry's Vision Disappoints a Yearning World (World Opinion Roundup)

A high-level Washington power struggle over U.S. policy toward Iran is driving the espionage investigation of the powerful American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to international online observers.

World Opinion Roundup brings the diversity of the global online media to your screen, presenting today's news and views from journalists, pundits and commentators from every continent. We'll talk about America in the eyes of the world, compare journalistic practices, analyze politics and perspectives, examine the nature of news and debate styles of journalism.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Jefferson Morley: Welcome everybody. With the spread of fighting in Iraq and growing interest in the U.S. presidential campaign, the story of the divergence between U.S. and world opinion could not be more timely.

All questions welcome

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Ottawa, Canada:
Hi, Jeff

Again the Americans puzzle the rest of the world! According to some recent polls (from CNN or others), over 50 percent of American people consider the country is heading for a wrong direction under the current administration. Very confusingly in pretty much the same polls, over 50 ;percent of people would vote for the president if the election is held now. I can't make out the reasoning behind this contradiction. Can I take a venture to ask if this is an indication that the majority of American people think it's OK for the country to head for a wrong direction?

Also I perfectly understand the American people's appreciation on their president being a strong leader, so do I. But what I don't understand is that why nobody has just asked one more question: will a stronger leader make things much worse if he is leading the country toward a wrong direction?

Thanks, Jeff.

Jefferson Morley: The only explanation for the contradictions that you point out is that a slight plurality of people polled now believes that Bush is better than the alternative. That could change and the polls could be wrong. Don't forget that before the 2000 election, most polls had Bush ahead by 3 to 13 points and he wound up losing the popular vote.

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Arlington, Va.: What is the international press saying about the fact that the AIPAC "spy" story seems to have fizzled out?

Jefferson Morley: Only in Israel is the story getting much attention where there is a lot of eagerness to dismiss the story. The exposure of cooperating witness Larry Franklin was clearly an effort to thwart the investigation. I see no evidence that the AIPAC spy story has fizzled out. It certainly is not a "fact."

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Arlington, Va.: Do you think world opinion of American citizens will change if President Bush is reelected? I'm not talking about the government, which seems to be universally hated, but U.S. citizens. I've had Europeans tell me they have nothing against the people, only the government, but I think that would change if the people reelect the same government.

Jefferson Morley: This is the question that I get asked most frequently. Given the overwhelming opposition to President Bush in the public opinion of most our major allies, I have to think that Bush's reelection would harm the regard that the American people are held.

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Rochester, N.Y.: Hi Mr. Morley,
I wonder how you feel about the "will influence the election" defense?

It seems to me that the White House, the Congress and the media are avoiding discussing some issues because they will "influence the election."

(Robert Novak has said as much recently regarding withdrawal from Iraq, another issues might be the Senate WMD committee refusing to consider White House decision making)

Shouldn't important issues be the point of elections, rather than swift-nots and font-devils?

Thanks.

Jefferson Morley: I think the notion that certain issues can't be discussed because they might influence the election is an absurd copout.

I think it is cllear that the U.S. military is being restrained in Iraq out of political consideration. To be specific, the expected effort to retake the cities now controlled or dominated by insurgents is being delayed until after the people vote. This gives the armed opposition more time to entrench themselves and build support among the civilians living in these cities. It also spares voters the coming reality of U.S. casualties and Iraqi civilian casualties.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Thanks for your online chats. I think this shows that major American newspapers like the Post are not too caught up in hubris and arrogance to take time out of their day to deal with interested readers.

I wonder if the NYT is too precious to do something like this ...

Anyway, here's my question. What do you think will be the world reaction to a reelection of Bush? Particularly in Europe, , will their image of Americans as being naive and ignorant of world affairs be amplified?

Thanks

Jefferson Morley: See my answer above. I think Bush's reelection will tend to blur the distinction that some people make between the American people and their government. If we are a democracy, then we are responsible for our government.

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San Antonio, Tex.: Today, you opined,"And right now, the international online media is putting most of the responsibility on the shoulders of John F. Kerry." You also wrote, "Disagreement arises over what is to blame --for the Kerry campaign's lack of traction with U.S. voters]: the candidate, the American voters or the nightmarish combination of car bombings, kidnappings, beheadings and botched U.S. policies in Iraq."

Does the media outside the United States ever implicate the U.S. media in John Kerry's presidential campaign? I have only to think of ABC's Good Morning America show this morning in which Gibson/Sawyer/Roberts talked about the width of a candidate's eyes and the fullness of his lips, in addition to a fabric that was designed to repel sweat. If media outside the U.S. implicates the U.S. media in failing to give Kerry positive coverage, is it linked to American anti-intellectual basis, about which British journalists commented?

Jefferson Morley: Overseas commentators don't implicate the American media in Kerry's troubles nearly as often as American commentators do. That TV news coverage of the campaign is often stupid is all too predictable. I think the many failures of the American media in the past few years are going to force changes in how we pursue our business. I'm convinced that awareness of how the rest of the world sees the United Stats will be part of the change.

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San Antonio, Tex.: In your article today, one can list the foreign media's rants about what they see as a lagging Kerry campaign:
Blame Senator personally.
Blame American voters.
Blame botched U.S. policies in Iraq.
(even though no one worldwide has a solution)
Little policy differences between the candidates.
Anti-intellectualism in American policy.

But Jeff, please answer the rhetorical question you yourself raised: Why is there the failure of U.S. voters to see what the world sees?

Jefferson Morley: Before I answer the question, le me say that I don't think any of the articles I quoted in the column were "rants."

I think most Americans live in a different world than most of the rest of the world. They are surrounded by oceans and two friendly nations that are no threat. Americans may occassionally hear immigrants speaking a foreign language but only a small percentage speak a foreign language themselves. The people of Europe have parents and grandparents who lived through war in their cities. Americans only comparable wartime experience was Sept. 11. The people of the Middle East have parents and grandparents who experienced colonialism and domination by foreign powers that continue to this day. Americans have never had this experience. The British, the French, the Russians, and the Germans all know the history of their government's imperial adventures--and their failures. Americans have Vietnam and we still can't agree about what it means.

Because of all of this Americans are relatively uninformed about matters that the rest of the world knows well. Given our enormous military and economic might, combined with a certain optimistic strait in national thinking, leads to an expectation that our way can and should prevail, especially if we feel personally threatened. The Bush administration's "planning" for post-war Iraq demonstrates how national experience and cultural expectations can generate folly. Having lived through folly before, other peoples and governments had a better idea of what would result. You can't say they didn't warn us.

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Washington, D.C.: My family and I just returned from a vacation to Europe. Everywhere we went, as we met people from other countries or people in the countries we visited we heard the same comments repeated.

When asked where we were from people responded either by saying, "Oh, I'm sorry" or "How can you stand to live there with President Bush," etc. Similar comments ranging from Bush is an idiot, America is turning into a joke, they sure hope Bush loses in November, they sure hoped we weren't going to vote for him again, etc., were said over and over. It was very embarrassing.

Jefferson Morley: Thanks for sharing your story. The precipitous decline of America's standing in the world in the last few years is remarkable. I don't think we fully know its impacts

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Silver Spring, Md.: Given your previous statement, that the political ambitions of the president are driving military decisions in Iraq --- if this is in fact the case, it suggests that Bush really does not have the courage of his own convictions when it comes to the war. If the war is justified, then --- press on and fight it. If Bush fears that mounting U.S. casualties would erode his support at home, then the question I have (a rhetorical one, since I won't get an answer) is this: what are we fighting for? And are we prepared to pay the price? It's a most cynical position to take -- to delay military action because of the commander in chief's political ambitions? Either fight to win or get out. Playing politics with the lives of American soldiers almost guarantees defeat.

Jefferson Morley: What are we fighting for and are we prepared to pay the price are indeed the central questions. The administration says we are fighting for "freedom" and against "terrorism." In practical terms, the goal is a stable and democratically elected government in Iraq. Stability is long, long way off and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is now backing away from democratically elected saying, elections in part of the country would suffice. There is already talk of the existing Iraqi political entities combining and running as a single entity next January, meaning that Iraqi voters may have no choice at all.

Are Americans willing to pay the price for this? So far, the answer is yes. But the bills have yet to be paid. Over the last six months, American forces have lost control of more territory than they have gained.That territory will have to be retaken with the sort of combat operations that U.S. and Iraqi authorities have consciously avoided (in Fallujah). If these operations are successful, I think Americans will be willing to pay the price. If not....

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Boca Raton, Fla. (aka "Survivor City"): Mr. Morley,

How much credence is the international press giving King Abdullah's comments regarding the impossibility of Iraqi elections?

Jefferson Morley: You have to understand that most of the world does not operate on the 24 hours news cycle of news junkies like you and me.

King Abdullah's remarks have been reported. They have been given that credence. Is he right? Is he wrong? Most of the world waits a few hours--or days or weeks--before passing definitive judgments.

As one of the United States most loyal allies in the Middle East and as an unelected leader who retains power by paying close attention to the opinions of the "Arab street," the king's words will be taken seriously.

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Columbia, Md.: Why has John Kerry stopped promoting the idea that world leaders favor him over Pres. Bush? Did he not have the proof to back it up, despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence. Or does he think that the American public seems generally allergic to opinion of "fahriners."

Jefferson Morley: A little bit of both. He probably had real indications that some European leaders would rather deal with him but he couldn't name them without embarrassing them. He also might have worried about domestic political fallout. If he did, it speaks to a certain timidity.

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Washington, D.C.: Since the military is now being restrained due to the election and the insurgents are digging in, there appears to be a toll in blood that's being incurred. The cost in American lives between what it would take to re-occupy Najaf today and what it will cost to re-take it in December are deaths directly attributable to the reelection effort of the Bush administration. Who can put a number on this?

Jefferson Morley: No one. Since it hasn't happened we don't know. But it is puzzling that the delay of retaking of Iraqi cities isn't an election issue. Rather, it is an election issue that neither candidate is talking about.

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Somewhere, Continental Europe: In response to Arlington. I believe that, yes, if Bush is reelected it will reflect very poorly on the way we Europeans (and most other people) see Americans. So far, we have given the American people the benefit of the doubt. You weren't held responsible for having a clueless and dangerous leader. But if you elect him this time around, we will draw the conclusion that in fact the voters are as clueless and dangerous as he is.

Jefferson Morley: Thanks for your comment Continental Europe.

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California St., NW Washington, D.C.: Hello:

Has there been any reaction to Bush's statement the other day saying all options (including war) are on the table regarding dealing with Iran? Is there any sense that Bush is going to attack elsewhere in 2005?

Jefferson Morley: There is a widespread sense in the international online media that a preemptive U.S. or Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities is a real possibility after the election. The general feeling is that Iran is feeling more confident now that the U.S. is bogged down in Iraq and has far fewer military options than it had two years ago. This is openly stated in the Iranian press.

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Rockville, Md.: I don't understand why the rest of the world is so concerned about the American elections. Why don't they vote for someone decent in their country?

I disagree with Chirac but if the French want to vote for him I am not going to get all upset about it. While the rest of the world is hoping that 'we in America see the world as Europe does', why can't I hope that if Bush is reelected, Europe will give Bush a second look (what they are asking us to do about Kerry) and realize that 50 percent of Americans voted for him and that he's not so bad. (I'm not saying he's a scholar, but he's not the stubborn, stupid cowboy everyone thinks he is either.) Is this even possible?

If Bush wins will the rest of the world give him credit or will they think that stupid American voters were manipulated by swift boat ads and scared into voting for Bush?

Jefferson Morley: The rest of the world is so concerned with American elections because the actions of the American president probably affect their lives as much, if not more than the actions of their own leaders. This is not an experience that we, as Americans, have ever had. They care for the same reason we care. It affects their daily lives.

If Bush wins, I think many foreigners will conclude that Americans voted out of some combination of fear, ignorance and hubris.

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Boca Raton, Fla.: Now that fair elections look unlikely in Iraq, it is interesting that President Carter has indicated that it is questionable whether we will have fair elections here in Florida.
I would think that the press would have picked up on this coincidence?

Jefferson Morley: With your help, maybe they will.

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Bocas del Toro, Panama: Thank you Jefferson for writing this article. As an American living outside the U.S. I have a greater opportunity to see and hear how the rest of the world views the U.S. Your article leaves me a bit confused though. If the world is so anti-Bush, and a majority of the polls around the world prove this, why is it that you quote so many journalists that are pro-Bush?

I was really hoping to see why so many people around the world are so against George Bush's policies and are pro Kerry. Can you explain a bit more as to why G.W. is not popular and Kerry is more popular?

Jefferson Morley: I quoted exactly one journalist who was pro-Bush in my article. I quoted him because I like my articles to provide balance.

Bush is unpopular because of his unilateral foreign policy, including the attack on Iraq; the incompetent, if not nonexistent, preparation for the occupation of Iraq; the unconditional support given to expansionist policies of the Israeli government; the torture of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghrabi; the disdain with his administration treated European countries who felt the U.S. had not proven that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction; the lack of contrition from Washington when they were proven correct; the rejection of the Kyoto global warming treaty.

There's other reasons, but that's a start.

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Arlington, Va.: If we care so much what the rest of the world thinks of us, our electoral process and our choices of candidates, maybe we should just let them decide for us.

Jefferson Morley: In recent weeks, writers from The Guardian (of London) and the Times of India both proposed that the whole world be allowed to vote in the U.S. presidential election.

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Arlington, Va.: In today's International Herald Tribune, there is an article about the fact that Europe has gained more jobs during Bush's administration than the U.S. This is significant change. Will the U.S. media pick up this story?

Jefferson Morley: That would take imagination and nerve, two qualities in short supply in American journalism these days.

Most likely, the media will pick up the story if Kerry talks about it.

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Washington, D.C.: ... what is the real willingness of foreign governments to provide troops for Iraq? For example, if there was a U.N. command (not by an American) would this shake anything loose?
What about more troops for Afghanistan to lighten the burden there? Thanks.

Jefferson Morley: This is a very good question. I think France would send troops to Iraq if Kerry were elected and moved forcefully to "internationalize" the U.S. presence there. Germany would have a hard time saying no to President Kerry but a harder time overcoming deep and widespread opposition to sending German soldiers there. As for the other leading candidates to supply troops (India, Pakistan, and Turkey), I think it depends on how bad the situation is there. If the U.S. is caught in a counterinsurgency campaign--which it shows every sign of heading towards--I don't think other countries will want to get involved, even if Kerry were in the Oval Office.

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New York, N.Y.: Is it fair to say that if the world was given a choice between Saddam remaining or returning in power in Iraq or Bush winning another four years, that the rest of the world would be in favor of Saddam making a comeback? If Marion Barry can do it, why can't Saddam?

Jefferson Morley: Because Saddam is in jail. Marion has paid his debt to society.

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Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: Do you think Kerry should consider a trip to some of the troubled regions of the world, i.e., the Middle East, before the election? I have long thought that in order to obtain a position, you must act as though you already have it. At this point, I don't think it would hurt.

How do you think this would be received by world leaders?

Jefferson Morley: It would be folly for Kerry to leave the U.S. during the campaign and every world leader would advise him against it. It will never happen.

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Washington, D.C.: Living in Washington, I believe we become jaded, until even the pundits are talking only to each other. I have never been polled regarding my choice of candidate for president, and I know that many many like me have not. I put no stock whatsoever in the polls. Perhaps because I was raised in the midwest, I know that there are many voters energized and mobilized to surprise the press, pundits, and politicians!

Jefferson Morley: You may be on to something. We'll know on the morning of November 3.

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Philly, Pa.: I lived on a military base in Germany during the Carter Administration. Europeans just didn't get how a "peanut farmer" could be president. Whenever a major speech of his was announced, the day before it, the line at the bank went around the corner because after he spoke the value of the dollar always went down. I can't even imagine what it must be like now. What is your sense of how Americans living abroad will vote? Will it impact the election?

Jefferson Morley: There are a lot of stories in the international press about efforts to get out the expat vote. As for which way those voters will go, it varies tremendously. Public opinion in Israel is very pro-Bush so Americans living there would probably support the president. Americans enamored enough with the European lifestyle to voluntarily live in Europe may lean to Kerry. Remember too that U.S. military personnel are one of the biggest groups of overseas voters. As a group, they vote Republican but Kerry has had some success in appealing to them.

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New York, N.Y.: My firm does some of its business in Asia. While many of our clients have expressed fear and mistrust of the Bush administration's policies, they haven't been inclined to blame Americans personally because of the 2000 election's vague outcome. If Bush is elected in 2004 by a clear majority, I suspect that our overseas friends will conclude that all Americans are to be feared and mistrusted, and I think this could really harm America on the international business scene.

Jefferson Morley: Thanks for your observation.

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Jefferson Morley: We are out of time. Thanks for all your questions.

If you would like to receive World Opinion Roundup via email every Tuesday, please send a message to jeff.morley@wpni.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Your address will not be used for any other purpose.

See you next week.

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