Britons see US as vulgar empire builder

July 3, 2006

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By Ben Fenton

(Filed: 03/07/2006)

Britons have never had such a low opinion of the leadership of the United

States, a YouGov poll shows.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their

independence tomorrow, the poll found that only 12 per cent of Britons trust

them to act wisely on the global stage. This is half the number who had faith in

the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.

Most Britons see America as a cruel, vulgar, arrogant society, riven by

class and racism, crime-ridden, obsessed with money and led by an incompetent

hypocrite.

American troops are failing either to win " hearts and minds " in Iraq or

bring democracy to that country.

More than two-thirds who offered an opinion said America is essentially an

imperial power seeking world domination. And 81 per cent of those who took a

view said President George W Bush hypocritically championed democracy as a cover

for the pursuit of American self-interests.

A spokesman for the American embassy said that the poll's findings were

contradicted by its own surveys.

" We question the judgment of anyone who asserts the world would be a

better place with Saddam still terrorizing his own nation and threatening people

well beyond Iraq's borders.

" With respect to the poll's assertions about American society, we bear

some of the blame for not successfully communicating America's extraordinary

dynamism.

" But frankly, so do you [the British press]. "

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