Poll: World worries about new Bush term

Only 26 percent of those surveyed believed Mr. Bush was a positive force. The situation in Iraq was a key factor in many people's opinion of the US. The Guardian reports that the survey also indicates that, for the first time, the dislike of Mr. Bush is translating into a dislike of Americans in general.

The poll also showed how differently those in other countries and US citizens look at the global security situation.

The Independent Online of South Africa points out that 56 percent of Americans thought Bush's win was good for the world, with 39 percent disagreeing. Meanwhile, even in countries like Australia, Italy, and Britain, which have troops serving in Iraq, a majority of those surveyed viewed Bush's reelection negatively.

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Steven Kull, the director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland (PIPA), which conducted the poll, said it painted "a grim picture for the US." Doug Miller, president of the polling firm GlobeScan, which helped conduct the survey, also called the results troubling.

'Our research makes very clear that the re-election of President Bush has further isolated America from the world,' he said. 'It also supports the view of some Americans that unless his administration changes its approach to world affairs in its second term, it will continue to erode America's good name, and hence its ability to effectively influence world affairs.'

On a more optimistic note, the BBC, for whom the poll was conducted, reports that Mr. Kull of PIPA says the results do not constitute a definitive world-wide majority, "suggesting there may be some underlying openness to repairing relations with the US."

The Washington Times reports that Prime Minister Tony Blair, played down the results of the poll, and said Bush will " display a more consensual approach" to world politics in his second term. Mr. Blair said he thought it was "significant" that Bush's first foreign trip after his inauguration on Thursday will be to Europe, a region that has frequently been at odds with American foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports Thursday the British government is pushing the US to "give a provisional timetable for the withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq." The paper reports that the Blair government believes that such an announcement will help the new Iraqi government which will be elected on January 30, while undercutting insurgents.

'Giving a timetable would be an important political signal that we intend to leave Iraq,' the government source was quoted as saying. 'The main Iraqi parties are already talking about when coalition forces should be drawn down,' said the source. 'America knows it will have to deal with the issue soon.'

Finally, the US's intention to create a timetable for withdrawal may be accelerated a by a new series of intelligence reports that "paint a grim picture" for US plans in Iraq. Knight Ridder cites a series of reports which "conclude that there's little likelihood that President Bush's goals can be attained" anytime soon.

Also...
• 6 sought after tip alleging 'dirty bomb' [in Boston] ( Boston Globe)
• UK Iraq abuse suspects' trial adjourned ( Reuters
• Can Iyad Allawi hold Iraq together? ( New Yorker)
• Iraq poll casts shadow over Bush inauguration ( Financial Times)

• Feedback appreciated. E-mail Tom Regan .