Study: Arab-U.S. trade unharmed by anti-Bush sentiments
Research of 19 Arab states challenges perception that negative image of U.S. impacted trade or travel.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: George Bush Israel newsThe Arab world's negative image of America under the Bush administration did little to impact regional demand for U.S. products, nor did it keep regional academics from traveling or studying in the United States, according to a recently released study.
Former State Department official Dr. David Pollock of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy looked at 19 Arab states over the course 2000-2008.
The conclusions of his study challenge the perception that public opinion of the United States may have been negatively impacted by opposition to American policy.
Despite the increase during these years of anti-American protests coupled with opposition to the U.S. at the United Nations, U.S. trade rose significantly, as did the sale of American-made weapons to Arab states.
There was a decline in visa demands immediately after September 11, according to the study, but by 2008 the numbers were back up and even higher than before.
Pollock told Haaretz that he was surprised by the study's conclusions, having assumed that public opinion influenced not just the media, but trade and demand as well.
However, he said, the statistics showed that demonstrations and business interests were not necessarily related, and that negative image of a country would not necessarily carry a similar impact on supply and demand.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
While this may not change the results of the study, it is actually the cheap value of the dollar that made American Products and services much cheaper than similar ones from Euro and Sterling zones. These extra trades have helped lower otherwise higher inflation in GCC countries whose currencies are pegged to the US dollar. A Majority of the Americans now realize how wrong and fateful GWB policies were.
Mr. Bush was last week's "flavor" For this week and quite possibly the next 7 years it will be Mr. Obama's turn at the helm of the US ship of state. Based upon centuries of past history it is easily evident to any student of history that the Israeli/Palestinian dispute will not be resolved, not today, not tomorrow and quite possibly, not in the next ten years. Obama must make the same decision that England has made which is to disengage itself from the fray. However, with the war lobbyists and foreign lobbyists in Washington this will not be easy. American dollars merely prolong the corruption and fan the war sentiment between all the parties. Once the US physical presence and dollar diplomacy is gone, the protagonists will have to face the truth, either make peace in a bad situaion or fight to the death. Mr Obama has a 50/50 chance of succeeding. If the US pulls out completely, he has a chance and is true to what he told the American electorate in order to get to be president
I have seen fine Judaica artifacts in Jerusalem's Arab Quarter of the Old City. Thereafter they abhore the "judaization" of Jerusalem. Understanding Arabs isn't easy for Americans. Ask U.S. soldiers in Iraq.