President Obama may be struggling with his health care initiative, but so far he can claim success in improving the U.S. image worldwide, according to a new poll.

According to a new global poll by the Pew Research Center, "in many countries opinions of the United States are now about as positive as they were at the beginning of the decade before George W. Bush took office."

Among the reasons: Obama's June speech in Cairo to the Muslim world, as well as pledges to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

This picture of the Obamas is from one of The Oval's favorite cities, Prague.

"Improvements in the U.S. image have been most pronounced in Western Europe, where favorable ratings for both the nation and the American people have soared," the poll says. "But opinions of America have also become more positive in key countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well."

(Posted by David Jackson; photo by Petr Josek, Reuters)