Gallup: Record number dissatisfied with US global position

According to a new Gallup poll, a record number of Americans are dissatisfied with their country's global position.

"Americans' view of the United States' position in the world has undergone a complete reversal over the course of the Bush administration," Lydia Saad writes for Gallup. "Since February 2001, Americans' dissatisfaction with the country's position in the world has more than doubled."

Gallup asked 1,007 national adults, aged 18 and older, over the telephone the following question: "On the whole, would you say that you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the position of the United States in the world today?"

"Public dissatisfaction with the United States' global position was 27% in February 2002, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks," Gallup reports. "It rose to 50% during the pre-Iraq war period in 2003 when the United States was actively lobbying its allies and other countries at the United Nations to support military action against Iraq. It then quickly dipped to 29% at the very beginning of the war in Iraq in March 2003, but has risen steadily since."

The article continues, "Today's 68% dissatisfaction rating is the highest Gallup has recorded on this question, including during the Vietnam War era. At three different points in the 1960s, the public was consistently divided in its responses, with about 44% satisfied and 46% dissatisfied."

This video is from USAToday.com, broadcast March 5, 2008.







