Muslim opinionof U.S. improves

Muslim opinion of America is changing — for the better, according to a poll released yesterday at the District-based Heritage Foundation.

Described as “dramatic” and categorized as “the first substantial shift of public opinion in the Muslim world” since September 11, the findings reveal that pronounced Islamic distaste of the United States is waning.

Based on a survey conducted Feb. 1-6 of 1,200 adults in Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim country — the poll found that 40 percent favored U.S.-led efforts against global terrorism — up from 23 percent in 2003.

Another 36 percent said they opposed those efforts; the figure stood at 72 percent two years ago.

Confidence in Osama bin Laden has dropped. When asked if they thought the terrorist leader could “do the right thing regarding world affairs,” 23 percent agreed.

In 2003, that figure was 58 percent.

“The support base that empowers global terrorists has significantly eroded. … This is a major blow to al Qaeda and other terrorists,” the poll stated.

American response to the tsunami that ravaged the region last December has inspired good feelings.

The poll found that 65 percent had a more favorable view toward the United States in the aftermath, with 75 percent saying Americans had done enough to help tsunami victims and 64 percent deeming that assistance “important.”

Among those who said they supported bin Laden, 71 percent said that American tsunami relief had made them more favorable to the United States.

Polling was done face to face in both urban and rural areas of Indonesia.

“This is just plain good news, and represents a huge sea change. Favorable feelings for the U.S. have increased dramatically, indicating we may be on the verge of turning the corner in this region,” said Ken Ballen, president of District-based Terror Free Tomorrow, which sponsored the poll.

Founded last year, the nonprofit organization advocates the idea that global terrorists can be defeated “by undermining the support base that empowers them,” according to Mr. Ballen.

The premise has won endorsements for the group from Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican; Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana Republican; Warren Rudman, former Republican senator from New Hampshire; and September 11 commission members Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean.

The new poll represents a departure from recent opinion surveys of the United States, which often cast America in the role of an oil-seeking bully with questionable culture.

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