The sentiment of the European public is probably representative of the rest of the world, except for perhaps a few Arab countries. Even there, despite the Sunni-Shia divide and reciprocal ethnic cleansing, Iran still managed to win brownie points among Arab publics. Tehran’s defiance of Washington and its support for Hamas and Hezbollah was instrumental in this. Nevertheless, Iranians themselves have different ideas about the conduct of their leadership, or at least their president.
The fact that America’s reach is global and Iran’s is just regional has something to do with this sentiment. In addition, the style and substance of the Bush administration has alienated most everyone in the world. So long as the perception of the U.S. continues to be that of the global bully rather than a “public good provider”, this will continue. Whether fair or unfair, this sentiment will have a negative impact on the ability of the U.S. to lead the globe in restructuring the world order.
It is also clear that the world came to expect the worst from the Bush administration. Despite the sense that attacking Iran is not a rational policy choice, most everyone suspects this administration is capable of doing it. The world probably isn’t yearning to see a nuclear Iran, but there is even less desire to see an American assault on yet another Middle Eastern country. That is, if for no other reason, because the incompetence of the attacker is already on full display in Afghanistan and Iraq.
If the United States cannot convince the world public that war with Iran is indeed a last resort and that it is trying to find an earnest diplomatic solution to its problems with Iran, the regime in Tehran will enjoy the high ground in its public relations battles.
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