SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — A recent survey shows the US President Barack Obama administration’s increasing use of assassination drone strikes against civilian targets is being widely condemned around the world.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, in 17 out of 21 countries surveyed, especially in the Middle East, Mexico, and Greece, more than half of the people disapprove of US drone attacks on civilians.
Washington claims the non-UN-sanctioned airstrikes target only “terrorist leaders” and “those who threaten the lives of the American citizens.”
The New York Times reported on May 29, 2012, that Obama personally approves the names put on the "kill lists" used in the targeted killing operations carried out by American assassination drones.
The 21-nation survey also revealed that international approval of Obama's foreign policy has dropped sharply during his term in office.
In China, support for Obama has significantly declined by 24 percent and approval of his policies has dropped 30 points.
In the Muslim countries surveyed, approval of Obama's international policies dropped from 34 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2012.
"I think where you see the real disappointment is when you deal with specific policies," said Richard Wike, associate director of the Pew Global Attitudes Project.
He added that the survey showed big gaps between expectation levels and action over Obama's policies on climate change and treatment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The survey also indicated that a majority of the participants in Germany, UK, France and Spain see the US as a declining economic power and consider China as the world’s economic leader. — www.shafaqna.com
