10/25/13 7:09 AM
SEPTEMB ER 9, 2013
http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/09/09/action-against-syria-lacks-popular-backing/
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Action against Syria Lacks Popular Backing | Pew Global Attitudes Project
10/25/13 7:09 AM
Notably in the wake of Londons failed Aug. 28 attempt to get Security Council approval for some form of military action in Syria, only in Western Europe Germany (76%), Spain (74%), Britain (67%) and France (66%) did strong public majorities back the principle of U.N. authorization. Americans were divided: 45% thought approval was needed, 44% did not. Roughly half or more of the publics in countries neighboring Syria did not support the principle of seeking U.N. blessing for military action, including 59% in the Palestinian Territories, 54% in Jordan, and about half in Egypt and Lebanon. In Lebanon, only 10% of Lebanese Shia, who generally back the Assad regime, thought U.N. sanction was necessary. Meanwhile, 59% of Lebanese Sunnis, many of whom support the Syrian rebels who might benefit from a Western military strike, believe U.N. approval is necessary. Both the Chinese and the Russian governments oppose any U.N. approval of military action against Syria. Ironically, at least in principle, their publics do not think such approval is even needed for military actions. In 2011, only a quarter of Russians thought it was necessary to seek Security Council backing before using military force to deal with international threats, while only 38% of Chinese saw a need to first go to the U.N. to obtain its blessing.
Obamas dilemma
With the British Parliaments rejection of U.K. military action, the Obama administrations effort to cobble together a coalition of willing NATO allies to join the U.S. in any attack now may only include France and possibly Turkey. This NATO-lite effort comes at a time of waning support for the multilateral security organization, especially in Western Europe. Since 2009, NATO favorability is down 14 percentage points in Spain (to 42%) and Germany, and 13 points in France (to 58%), according to a Pew Research Center survey done before the most recent allegations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government. Only about half of Americans see NATO in a favorable light, virtually unchanged from 2009. Although Turkey is a long-time NATO member, Turkish public support for the security alliance is also quite weak. Just a quarter of Turks have a favorable view of NATO today, although that is a 10 percentage point improvement over NATO backing just a year ago.
http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/09/09/action-against-syria-lacks-popular-backing/
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Action against Syria Lacks Popular Backing | Pew Global Attitudes Project
10/25/13 7:09 AM
How a U.S.-led military strike against Syria might affect public views of the alliance is unknown. But an Aug. 26-28 survey in France by the newspaper Le Figaro found that 59% of the public was opposed to military action by France even if it has U.N. approval. An Aug. 28 poll by ZDF television in Germany, meanwhile, showed that 55% of the public opposed any financial or material support of a U.S. strike against Syria. And in a March 2013 Pew Research Center survey, two-thirds of Turks were against Western countries even sending arms and military supplies to the anti-government groups in Syria. All this suggests that the effort to gain multilateral backing and participation for a military strike on Syria may not actually result in the publicly condoned political cover that the administration seems to be hoping for.
http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/09/09/action-against-syria-lacks-popular-backing/
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