Global Backing for Obama Takes a Hit

Global approval of Barack Obama’s foreign policies has taken a pounding in his first term as president, especially regarding the U.S. military’s use of drones, a Pew Research survey of 21 countries shows.

Obama’s approval plunged from 57 percent to 27 percent in China. The poll found that 63 percent of Europeans still back Obama’s policies – but that’s down from 78 percent in 2009. Muslim countries low opinion of the president sank further, with approval dropping from 34 percent to 15 percent.

View the full report here.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly

BBC:

Among the countries surveyed there was widespread opposition to US drone strikes. At least 50% of respondents in 17 countries disapproved of such strikes, with the largest percentages in the Middle East, Mexico and Greece.

In recent weeks, Mr Obama has become more closely associated with the US drone programme, with a New York Times report noting he personally approves each strike, and that the US keeps a “kill list” of potential strikes against militants.

Read more

Tony Fischer Photography (CC BY 2.0)

The president appears on “CNN Politics” in 2008. The text at the bottom of the screen reads: “Obama: Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe.”