NYTs:
But in making the case that toppling Mr. Hussein was a vital step in protecting the United States from terrorism, the White House is also setting out a broad strategic framework built on the idea that bringing peace and democracy to Iraq and the Middle East would generally undercut the forces that have bred Islamic militancy.
Mr. Bartlett said Mr. Bush would discuss that theme on Friday in a speech at the White House. The speech will be delivered to an audience of ambassadors from nearly all the nations that have lent some support to the fight against terrorism and is intended to rally support for the job of stabilizing Iraq and the entire Middle East, he said.
Mr. Bush's appearances this week are part of a coordinated, administrationwide effort to tell voters that the United States is making progress in fighting terrorism and that Mr. Bush deserves the credit.
WASHINGTON - A year after the invasion of Iraq (news - web sites), the United States faces suspicion abroad about its military efforts to combat terrorism and a growing desire among European nations to match U.S. influence and power in the world.
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When people in the nine countries — including Britain and the United States — were asked whether the United States' actions were sincere to reduce international terrorism, majorities in France, Germany and the four Muslim-majority countries said they thought not. Almost half in Russia thought the United States was not sincere, while majorities in Britain and the United States said they thought the anti-terror campaign was a sincere effort.
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People in the surveyed Muslim countries remain angry about U.S. policies — and are even supportive of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the Saudi terrorist who took credit for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Almost two-thirds of the poll respondents in Pakistan said they view bin Laden favorably — a significant finding because U.S. troops are trying to find bin Laden in the mountainous region on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan (news - web sites). More than half of those in Jordan and almost half of those polled in Morocco had a favorable view of bin Laden.
Anger toward the United States in these Muslim-majority countries remains very high, Kohut said, though the intensity has dropped a bit since last May.
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