2006年VOA标准英语-Poll: Global Support Declines for U.S. Foreign

By Anthony Stokes
Washington, DC
15 June 2006
 
watch Global Attitudes report
 
  
  
The global image of the United States has declined, and fewer people support the U.S.-led war on terror.  That's the assessment¹ of a worldwide poll released this week by a Washington D.C.-based research group. 

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"As your president, I am responsible for the decision to go into Iraq," President Bush commented at the beginning of the Iraq war.

 
U.S. troops 
  
That decision by President George W. Bush has caused America's global image to slip, and support for the war on terror has declined, according to a poll released this week by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.

Pew questioned more than 17,000 people in 15 nations, including the United States, asking their opinions on U.S.-led efforts to fight terrorism.  Results show that support for the war on terrorism has declined even among close U.S. allies such as Japan.

Andrew Kohut   
  
Pew Center President, and director of the Global Attitudes Project, Andrew Kohut, explains: "The polls, besides showing declining favorability ratings for the U.S., also shows declining support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism, President Bush's ratings - confidence in him to do the right thing in regard to foreign affairs was ever-lower in Europe, and most people predicting that the United States will not achieve its goals in Iraq." 

The survey suggests many people feel the U.S. presence in Iraq is a danger to world peace. It also indicates the war has damaged opinions of America, not only in predominately Muslim countries, but in Europe and Asia as well.  For example, in India, 71 percent had a favorable view last year and that slipped to 56 percent this year.

"The most serious problem is backsliding in the image of the U.S. in countries where we saw improvements last year, specifically in India and Indonesia, where tsunami² aid appeared to have made a real difference.  Some of that difference seems to have eroded³ based on this current survey.

William Kristol  
  
William Kristol, editor of the Washington-based political magazine, The Weekly Standard, doesn't agree with the poll's conclusions. "It's hard to make the case that we're facing a huge anti-American wave in these countries."

Kristol said he believes relations with India, which is in talks with the U.S. over a nuclear cooperation agreement, have improved.  He also says he believes relationships with allies such as Japan also are strong.

Still, the Pew director says the poll accurately⁴ reflects a decline in America's global image, one he says will be a challenge for the country to improve.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

3 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

4 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。