Most people across the world believe the US-led “war on terror” has failed to weaken al-Qaeda and many think the group has actually grown stronger, a BBC World Service poll revealed yesterday.
Seven years after the US launched its campaign following the Sept. 11 attacks, even Americans appear unsure about its success.
On average only 22 percent of people polled across 23 countries thought US action had weakened Osama bin Laden’s network, while 29 percent thought it had no effect and 30 percent believed it had actually made al-Qaeda stronger.
Just 34 percent of Americans questioned believed al-Qaeda had been weakened, while 26 percent thought the “war on terror” has had no effect and 33 percent said they thought the campaign had made the group stronger.
“Despite its overwhelming military power, America’s war against al-Qaeda is widely seen as having achieved nothing better than a stalemate and many believe that it has even strengthened al-Qaeda,” said Steven Kull, director of the US-based Program on International Policy and Attitudes.
The survey of 24,000 people, carried out between July 8 and Sept. 12, also revealed that the predominant view in 15 countries polled is that neither the US nor al-Qaeda is winning the conflict.
On average, just 10 percent of respondents thought al-Qaeda was winning, 22 percent thought the US was winning and 47 percent said neither.
Turkey, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt were most positive about the impact of the “war on terror” and US success, while one-fifth of Pakistanis questioned believed al-Qaeda was winning — although 24 percent believed neither was.
A majority of those polled had a negative opinion of al-Qaeda, except in two countries seen as on the frontline of the conflict — Egypt and Pakistan.
One-fifth of Egyptians said they had a favorable view of al-Qaeda, 40 percent were neutral and 35 percent had a negative view. In Pakistan, 19 percent were positive, 22 percent were neutral and 19 percent were negative.
“The fact that so many people in Egypt and Pakistan have mixed or even positive views of al-Qaeda is yet another indicator that the US ‘war on terror’ is not winning hearts and minds,” said Doug Miller, chairman of international polling firm GlobeScan.
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