…is kindness. A poll last month in Pakistan (conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow) makes even more clear a notion that we have alluded to before on a couple of occasions [1,2]. If the U.S. wants a cost effective way of attacking terrorism at its root, then kill them with kindness. Just look at what happened when we decided to divert a few helicopters from Afghanistan to the quake ravaged regions of Pakistan. New America Media reports on the poll results:
So much for the popularly peddled view that anti-Americanism in the Muslim world is so pervasive and deep-rooted it might take generations to alter. A new poll from Pakistan, one of the most critical front lines in the war on terror, paints a very different picture — by revealing a sea change in public opinion in recent months.Long a stronghold for Islamic extremists and the world’s second most populous Muslim nation, Pakistanis now hold a more favorable opinion of the US than at any time since 9/11, while support for al Qaeda in its home base has dropped to its lowest level since then. The direct cause for this dramatic shift in Muslim opinion is clear: American humanitarian assistance for Pakistani victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed at least 87,000. The US pledged $510 million for earthquake relief in Pakistan and American soldiers are playing a prominent role in rescuing victims from remote mountainous villages.
Key Findings of Terror Free Tomorrow Poll in Pakistan [partial list]:
• 73% of Pakistanis surveyed now believe suicide terrorist attacks are never justified, up from 46% just last May.
• Support for Osama Bin Laden has declined significantly (51% favorable in May 2005 to just 33% in November), while those who oppose him rose from 23% to 41%.
• US favorabilty among Pakistanis has doubled from 23% in May to more than 46% now, while the percentage of Pakistanis with very unfavorable views declined from 48% to 28%.
• For the first time since 9/11, more Pakistanis are now favorable to the United States than unfavorable.
• 78% of Pakistanis have a more favorable opinion of the United States because of the American response to the earthquake, with the strongest support among those under 35.
The full poll has additional key findings and what the pollsters feel are the critical implications of the results. We now have two dramatic data points in less than a year. When America went in after the tsunami our reputation skyrocketed with the Indonesian people, and now this news from Pakistan. This is not say that simply being kind is all it takes to stamp out terrorism. Action, military action even, will always be needed. But this poll points toward a clear and non-duplicitous strategy to undercut the support of terrorism. The world thinks that American foreign policy and where it diverts resources is only in pursuit of oil. If I were in charge of foreign policy I would make sure that for every action in pursuit of oil we take two on humanitarian grounds that have no oil motive. Without a reason to focus their anger on America, populations could be focused on trying to change their own corrupt governments.
In an op-ed piece about this poll in the Wall Street Journal there was one additional point that seems quite important. Cut out the middle-men. Let the people we bring aid to interact directly with Americans:
The important point is that direct contact with Americans on a humanitarian mission, including military personnel, clearly has a positive impact on how Muslims view America. In Pakistan, 78% of those surveyed said that American assistance has made them feel more favorable to the United States. America also fared much better in the opinion of ordinary Pakistanis than the other Western countries that also provided aid, or even local radical Islamist groups that made a much-publicized effort to provide earthquake relief…<
p>But the overall message from Pakistan, pointing towards a potential trend in the Muslim world in general, is a positive one. By cutting out the middle men who all too often portray a poisonous image of the U.S., direct American engagement in humanitarian assistance not only ensures its aid reaches those in need but can also play a powerful role in marginalizing the foot soldiers for bin Laden and other supporters of extremist Islamic causes. [Link]
I wonder how long the current strategy which targets young, educated, disillusioned middle-class men will persist. I mean, we can shout until we’re hoarse that security is a far larger issue, but until the “experts” start to say this as well, I hope such observations begin to point people to the bigger picture.
Just to be clear, I don’t worship Musharraf. But I think his moderate religious stance and his pro-US sentiments might have helped the issue.
The Muslim grievance of the US is not because of a lack of awareness about the US magnanimity and is not a PR problem either (Karen Hughes has now realized that after her humiliating trip to the Muslim world) The grievance is because of ‘perceived’ injustice of the US foreign policy. Unless the core foreign policy issues are resolved, such acts of kindness might temporarily dissipate the hate, but in absence of real foreign policy changes to the satisfaction of the Muslim populists (which itself might be impossible) in these nations, the US is one war (think Syria,Iran), sanctions(think Syria), whatever away from becoming the most hated nation in both Pakistan and Indonesia. This of course does not mean that the US should stop giving humanitarian aid to the Muslim world or to any other poor country (Muslim or otherwise). Aid is not a zero sum game and such aid will obviously have some positive impact in the long run irrespective of future US foreign policy. However undue reliance on foreign huminatarian aid at the risk of ignoring the 800 pound foreign policy gorilla (not suggesting that Abhi is doing that) might mislead us into relying on aid instead of the other more difficult and painful option of revisiting the US foreign policy.
Stats eh! how do you know that the viewpoint has changed for those who said otherwise. Untill time shows some behaviour change we wont know.
heh… on the heels of this news, I’m waiting for someone to accuse Cheney/Rumsfield of secretly building an earthquake weapon.
This is exactly why the LTTE kept other aid workers out of their areas after the tsunami and insisted on distributing aid themselves. You need to win over the host population for an insurgency to succeed.
Already been done. A View to Kill.
“heh… on the heels of this news, I’m waiting for someone to accuse Cheney/Rumsfield of secretly building an earthquake weapon.”
some papers in middle east, especially even a “respected one” in egypt thought that tsunami was caused by us-india-israel giant nuclear testing in indian ocean. it made rounds in some circles last year.
some anti-india newspapers even in west, came up with wild theories that bhuj earthquake was triggered by nuclear testing. this has never been said by anyone from scientifc background.
Al Mujahid, “the US is one war (think Syria,Iran), sanctions(think Syria), whatever away from becoming the most hated nation in both Pakistan and Indonesia.”
Maybe you can help me understand – Despite the barbaric repression, bordering on ethnic cleansing of Uighur’s [Mulsims] in Xinjiang by Beijing, why is the Chinese regime seen as more benevolent then the US by the Pakistani’s? Or why are the Russians, who have massacred Muslims by the hundreds of thousands in Chechnya,[many more than the mini satan- israel] best friends with the Persians?
In light of this double standarsd, Isn’t it unfair to expect American Foreign Policy [read Amercian interest] to be held hostage by every Mulsim country?
In light of this double standarsd, Isn’t it unfair to expect American Foreign Policy [read Amercian interest] to be held hostage by every Mulsim country?
I am not sure why you have addressed the question to me. I am neither a Muslim nor a spokeperson for the ‘Ummah’. If you read my post carefully, you will see that I was identifying the cause which leads to anti-americanism without actually commenting on the merits of US foreign policy from any perspective.
Speaking of the Ughur and Russian repression, I dont believe the Chinese ‘repression’ of Ughurs has reached a level which warrants comparison with Israel. As far as Russia is concerned, I do agree with you that the Russian Human Rights atrocities in Chechnya are much worse than what Israel has ever done.
Al Mujahid, I didn’t assume that you are a Muslim. I only reacted to your comment. Anyways, If you do some cursory research [look up the amnesty report for starters, if interested] on the repression of Uighurs, you will learn that they are facing extinction in their own land. Indeed, the Chinese are replicating the policy they perfected in Tibet. i.e supplanting the indigenous population with ethnic Chinese – by the trainloads. Yet, the Ummah or even Europe stays silent. btw, Israel has never done anything remotely similar – I refer to the scale. p.s. this just in – Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke.
btw, Israel has never done anything remotely similar – I refer to the scale.
Count the refugees in West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian diaspora around the world who carry the United Nations issued white refugee cards instead of a passport. I am well aware of whats happening in Western China. I dont believe it merits comparison to Palestine though (yet!).
As far as hypocrisy of Muslims or Europeans goes (read Putins insane bombing of Grozny), Israel is obviously held to a higher standard than the rest of the world. Still selective outrage by the rest of the world does not and should not absolve the Israelis of their sins.
FYI, India has the second largest population of muslims, not pakistan.
My bad, I read the blog incorrectly, yes pakistan is the second most populous Muslim nation.
… and we shall see how long this will last. The next attack on the great satan will surely bring out the revelers. As some have already said and we should care about this because …
Too much hypocrisy and lack of introspection when Muslims start ranting and frothing at the mouth about the poor beknighted Ummah against the USA and Israel. They need to get the self pitying chip off their shoulder. Muslims carry out atrocities against non Muslims and Muslims all over the place – deal with it without having a complete mental collapse because the entire world hasnt converted to Islam and the White House hasnt become a masjid and the state of Israel is never going to disappear. Muslims have turned (metaphorically speaking) into the biggest gang of cry baby’s and self pitying monomaniacs on Earth. And if they dont get their way they throw their toys out of their pram (blow up some kaffirs in London, fly some planes into skyscrapers)
It’s the modern world baby, get with the program.
I doubt we’ll see any great out pouring of love towards the West and American from the Pakistanis. They will take any aid they get from America and continue their aiding and abetting of terrorism as they always have:
Al-Qaeda’s man who knows too much
In regards to Muslim anger towards Israel/U.S. over say China or Russia. I don’t think the issue is as much about body counts and oil as the much as the real issue is with embarrasment and a feelings of inferiority. I may be accused of trivializing the issue but I think the re-patriation of Israel occurred on such a huge stage, it was handled so poorly and in a way so embarrasing to the indigenous Muslim population and then followed by an embarrasing military defeat.
zarushthra
Well my observation is its a false sense of superiority. The embarassment comes when the reality hits home.
But more humanitarian missions means we need more oil to fuel those rescue choppers! So then that means we need more humanitarian missions to offset the oil-grabbing!
My dear friends,
I have gone through your blogs and came to the uderstanding that its all about anti american feeling which is running in your heart and brain.I am not a supporter of America,having said that,I believe it is still the best country in terms of freedom,till date I don’t understand why Pakistan is bent upon having good relationship with China,historically What China has given to the world,in only one word,it is cheap goods nothing else.I know thousands of pakistanis in America doing great job and earning for their mother nation,is it the same story with China,regarding India,do you think if India goes mad ,China will be able to save you.Israel,why people are anti Israel,its a small nation with probably defence size 1/10th of immediate neighbour.It needs help.Middle east is ot dictating terms because of energy,its going to change within few decades.
Cheers Raj