Bush's Democracy Crusade Defies Public Opinion (Lobe, One World)

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Bush's Democracy Crusade Defies Public Opinion

Fri Jan 21,10:06 AM ET

Jim Lobe, One World

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 21 (OneWorld) - President George W. Bush (news - web sites) faces a difficult challenge in rallying U.S. public opinion behind his clarion call for spreading freedom and democracy abroad, according to a number of surveys published over the last two years.

Those polls show that the general public is, if anything, less inclined to engage in a global crusade on behalf of democracy--particularly if it is undertaken unilaterally and militarily as in Iraq (news - web sites)--than it was even two years ago.

Indeed, one poll taken just last month found that only seven percent of respondents believe the primary focus of U.S. foreign and security policy should be on "building democracies in other regions," as opposed to what they considered substantially greater priorities, such as "defending U.S. borders and homeland security," and strengthening alliances with other nations against a common threat.

"The Iraq experience clearly has been a sobering one for Americans," said Pam Solo, president of the Massachusetts-based Civil Society Institute (CSI), which commissioned the poll of some 2,100 voters.

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