What Arabs Think (3)

The Middle East is a region adrift. Besides the shooting war in Iraq, and the latest intra-Palestinian clashes in Gaza, there are continuing fears about another Israel-Hizballah war, civil strife in Lebanon, terrorism in North Africa and a U.S. attack on Iran. James Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, who also represents Zogby International pollsters, recently gave Congress a comprehensive overview on how all the turmoil is affecting Arab attitudes. In short, the trends are more disturbing than ever.

Read Zogby's entire presentation to a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee here, but these are his main conclusions:

--There is a hardening of negative attitudes toward the U.S. and now even a downwards slide in attitudes toward our people, culture, values and products.

--There is less confidence that there will be peace and stability in the region in the next five years, with growing concern in several countries about the regional consequences of an Iraqi civil war; the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and a mounting concern about Iran's intentions and U.S.-Iranian tensions.

--There is a turning inward. Arabs are investing more in their own economies instead of in the West, and more engaged than ever before with problems closer to home.

--There is a turning away from the U.S., as Arabs are factoring the East (China, India, and Southeast Asia) more significantly in their future investment strategies.

--There is a growing public pressure on Arab governments, especially those who maintain strong ties to the U.S. to distance themselves from our policies.

-By Scott MacLeod/Cairo