DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Frightening results from a recent Pew Research Center poll on global opinion of the war on Iraq:

• Osama bin Laden is viewed favorably by large percentages in Pakistan (65%), Jordan (55%) and Morocco (45%).
• In those same countries, more people than not think suicide bombings against Americans are justified.
• Large majorities in almost every country surveyed think that American and British leaders lied when they claimed, prior to the Iraq war, that Saddam Hussein’s regime had weapons of mass destruction.
• Large majorities in every country, except for the U.S., hold an unfavorable opinion of Bush.
• Just 14% of Germans, 24% of French and 41% of British think that people who have moved to the U.S. from their countries have a better life.

To anyone who thinks America can succeed and survive in the long term without the support (if not admiration) of the rest of the world, I humbly suggest you cancel any international travel plans.

But don’t take my word for it. Listen to what John Hulsman, from the right-wing Heritage Foundation, says about the recent bombings in Madrid and subsequent ejection of Spain’s Bush-friendly government:

Al Qaeda clearly determined the outcome of a Western election. That is terrifying, and it will only encourage them to continue. The lesson is going to be that if you side with America, there’s a price to be paid.

More from Hulsman, and more interpretation of the Pew results can be found here: U.S., allies face rising antiwar sentiment (mirror)

When I visited Greece last Fall, I was treated with courtesy and respect nearly everywhere I went. But outside of the towns I saw evidence that my appeal was less than universal. This is only a tiny data point, but I took it personally. I don’t want to be judged based on the actions of my government. Moreover, I don’t want to be punished for them.