WASHINGTON – International resentment of the Bush administration has spilled over to include bad feelings for the American people, too, at least in three European countries that opposed U.S. policies in Iraq.
People in France, Germany and Spain are more likely to have an unfavorable than favorable view of Americans, Associated Press polling found.
Just over half in France and Germany said they viewed Americans unfavorably. Almost half in Spain felt that way, while a third of Spaniards viewed Americans favorably.
The U.S. rift with longtime allies France and Germany is the most serious in years, and relations with Spain have been particularly frosty since Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq last April.
The polling suggests an increasing lack of European understanding of Americans rather than a surge of anti-Americanism, said Gilles Corman, the director of public affairs for Ipsos-Inra of Belgium. Ipsos, an international polling company, conducted the surveys.
A majority in each of the four European countries polled, including close U.S. ally Britain, said they were disappointed in President Bush’s re-election.
In Australia, Canada, Britain and Italy, people had a negative view of Bush, but a majority in those countries said they viewed Americans favorably.
“The negative view that Canadians have of George Bush does not extend to Americans in general,” said Darrell Bricker, president of Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs-North America.
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