Skeptical Turks growing disenchanted with Obama

Only 23 percent of Turks believe that Obama will do the right thing in world affairs, down from 33 percent in 2009, according to the poll, released by the Pew Global Attitudes Project on Thursday. Only Pakistan, where a mere 8 percent has confidence in the US president, has rates lower than Turkey among the 22 countries where the poll was conducted. Jordan (26 percent) and Egypt (33 percent) follow Turkey on the list. In all the Muslim countries where the poll was conducted, there was a decline in confidence in Obama compared to a year ago. But the sharpest declines were in Turkey and Egypt. Confidence in Obama dropped 5 points or less in the other Muslim countries surveyed.

The findings show that Muslims around the world are becoming increasingly disenchanted with Obama despite his efforts to improve relations with the Muslim world. Following his election, Obama paid his first bilateral visit to Turkey, where he described Ankara as a “model partner” and continued his outreach to the Muslim world with a key speech delivered in Egypt.

But the survey, conducted from April 7 to May 8, shows that the US still possesses limited approval within the Muslim world and that Turks are among the most skeptical. Only 17 percent of those surveyed in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan view the US favorably. Jordan follows with 21 percent. The US’s positive rating is 52 percent in Lebanon, 59 percent in Indonesia and 81 percent in Nigeria, where Muslims comprise about half the population.

Looking on the bright side, the US favorability rate in Turkey still shows that there has been an improvement in the past three years. In 2007, it was at a record-low 9 percent and has been recovering since then: The favorability rate was recorded as 12 percent and 14 percent in 2008 and 2009, respectively, and finally 17 percent in 2010. In all other Muslim countries except Pakistan, the figures represent a decline in the US’s approval rates. Pakistan saw a slight increase, from 16 percent in 2009 to 17 percent.

As to the level of confidence in Obama, although the 23 percent is among the smallest when compared to the rest of the world, it is still unparalleled when it is measured against what Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, received in 2008: a mere 2 percent.

In a further sign of Muslim skepticism toward the US, the survey found that the majority of the public in Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon and Pakistan say the US could someday be a military threat to their country.

The surveys were taken before a deadly takeover by Israeli commandos of an aid ship trying to break the blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza on May 31, which killed nine activists. The incident sparked widespread condemnation of Israel and the US, the main backer of Israel, which refused to condemn the Jewish state.

Leaving aside the Muslim world, the US and Obama generally fare better. The six in 10 in Germany and Spain view the US favorably, which has doubled from the lows reached under Bush. The US image is also significantly better than it was under Bush in Russia, China, France, Argentina, South Korea and Japan. Obama is broadly supported, but the numbers expressing confidence in him have ebbed in 14 countries polled.

The poll also found that the portion of Muslims saying suicide attacks are sometimes justified in the seven Muslim nations polled ranged from 39 percent in Lebanon to 5 percent in Turkey. Nowhere did Muslims give majority support to Osama bin Laden or al-Qaeda.

Among the 22 nations surveyed, there is widespread opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and considerable support for tougher economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. For instance, more than three-quarters of those who oppose the Iranian nuclear program in Spain (79 percent), Britain (78 percent), Germany (77 percent) and France (76 percent), as well as 67 percent in Russia and 58 percent in China, approve of tougher sanctions. Many are also willing to consider using military force to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Turks, however, are less inclined to support sanctions, let alone military action against Tehran. Forty-four percent said they would consider tougher sanctions while only 29 percent gave the go-ahead for military action.

Among other findings of the poll is that Turks and Americans are the only nations among the 22 surveyed where the majority is more likely to say its country is disliked than to say it is liked. Some 60 percent of the Americans say the US is disliked in other countries and 68 percent of the Turks think Turkey is disliked.