Time (May 3)
“Diplomacy is subtle, atomic science complex. But the perceived villainy of Iran by the average American is the stuff of cartoons.” Opponents of the nuclear deal have been keen to exploit this antipathy. According to Gallup, “84% of the American public viewed Iran ‘unfavorably,’” when the deal was signed and with the constant stoking of fear there’s little reason to believe that number has gone down.
Tags: Antipathy, Diplomacy, Fear, Gallup, Iran, Nuclear deal, Opponents, U.S., Unfavorably, Villainy
Toronto Star (June 26)
“A deep national revulsion toward President Donald Trump has sent Canadians’ opinions of the United States plummeting to a level of antipathy never before seen.” The decline is particularly steep when compared with “the final year of Democrat Barack Obama’s presidency, when Pew found 65 per cent of Canadians favourably disposed to the U.S.” The figure has dropped to 43 per cent. Equally stunning, “under Obama last year, 83 per cent of Canadians had confidence in the president to do the right thing in world affairs. Under Trump this year, it is a mere 22 per cent.”
