US Most Likely to Start a War

A poll by the Pew Research Center revealed that almost six in ten Pakistanis —59 percent — view the United States as an "enemy". There's nothing surprising there, given our president's propensity for meddling in that country's affairs. Particularly when his chosen method is Drone missile strikes that terrorize the civilian population.

He's just good at killing people, and who can get enough of that?

Those living under the gun are quite qualified to comment on the threat our government poses to the peoples of the world. A report, "Living Under Drones" describes the nightmare that has become the norm for those providing fodder for the "global war on terror" — or the quest for US hegemony, if that makes you feel better.

But what about the rest of the world — those nominally outside the "war zone"? What do they think of our "heroes" and their many "sacrifices" to make the world safe for democracy? Surely they appreciate "our" efforts to keep them safe from this week's bogeyman.

Outside looking in, they actually think our government's foreign policy decisions are anything but positive. On the contrary, America — once a beacon of peace and freedom in the world — is now considered the biggest threat to peace on earth.

A poll of people in 60 countries conducted by Worldwide Independent Network, partnered with the American polling agency Gallup, found that 24 percent of those surveyed believe the US is the "greatest threat to peace in the world today".

We win! Ours is considered to be more of a threat than any other country on the planet!

This is sad all by itself. Even more so is the fact that the next closest country identified as being a threat, Pakistan, received just 8 percent of the vote. 

North Korea and Iran, run respectively by madmen and religious extremists, are both considered a threat to world peace by just 5 percent of those surveyed. (Obviously they're ignorant fools).

This is a sad state of affairs, but an accurate one.

While Americans like to think of their government — particularly their military — as a "global force for good", foreigners more accurately define our foreign policy as downright dangerous. This is true even in NATO countries like Turkey and Greece. Half a century of striding around the world, dropping bombs, destabilizing and overthrowing governments, propping up brutal dictators, arming insurgencies, and generally wreaking havoc and minding other people's business has tarnished Lady Liberty's once-fine image.

Even in the US, the ice is starting to crack: The International Business Times reports that "A surprising 13 percent of American respondents rated their own nation the biggest threat to world peace". Ouch.

Maybe that's why 52 percent of Americans want the US to mind its own business?

Interestingly, when people were asked, "If there were no barriers to living in any country of the world, which country would you like to live in?" America also came in first — but with just 9 percent of the vote. Australia and Canada were close seconds, with 7 percent each.

Maybe those who rightly identify our government as the biggest threat to world peace and stability also understand the growing threat it poses to domestic harmony.