Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Muslims believe US seeks to undermine Islam
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Staff Report

LAHORE: An in-depth poll of major Muslim countries has found that in all of them large majorities believe that undermining Islam is a key goal of US foreign policy.

The poll, conducted in Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, and Indonesia from December 2006 to February 2007 by WorldPublicOpinion.org with support from the START Consortium at the University of Maryland, also found that many Muslims approve of attacks on US troops in the Middle East.

Large majorities (average 79%) across all four countries believe the United States seeks to “weaken and divide the Islamic world”, ranging from 73 percent in Indonesia and Pakistan to 92 percent in Egypt. Equally large numbers perceive that the US is trying to maintain “control over the oil resources of the Middle East” (average 79%). Strong majorities (average 64%) also believe it is a US goal to “spread Christianity in the region”.

“While US leaders may frame the conflict as a war on terrorism, people in the Islamic world clearly perceive the US as being at war with Islam,” said Steven Kull, editor of WorldPublicOpinion.org.

Large majorities in all countries (average 74%) support the goal of getting the US to “remove its bases and military forces from all Islamic countries”.

Substantial numbers also favour attacks on US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the Persian Gulf. Approximately half of respondents support such attacks, while three in ten are opposed. But there is substantial variation between countries. Pakistanis are divided about attacks on the American military - many do not answer or express mixed feelings.

However, respondents roundly reject attacks on civilians. Most Indonesians (84%), Pakistanis (81%) and Egyptians (77%) say such violence cannot be justified “at all”.

Attitudes toward Al Qaeda are complex. On average, only three in ten view Osama Bin Laden positively. There is strong disapproval of attacks by “groups that use violence against civilians, such as Al Qaeda”. Large majorities in Egypt (88%), Indonesia (65%) and Morocco (66%) agree that such groups “are violating the principles of Islam.” Pakistanis are divided, however, with many not answering.

But there is also uncertainty about whether Al Qaeda actually conducts such attacks. Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted the September 11 attacks.

There is strong support for enhancing the role of Islam in all of the countries polled, through such measures as the imposition of Sharia. This does not mean that they want to isolate their societies from outside influences: Most view globalisation positively and favour democracy and freedom of religion.

Daily Times

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

I am am surprised you did not highlight the other findings.

***However, respondents roundly reject attacks on civilians. Most Indonesians (84%), Pakistanis (81%) and Egyptians (77%) say such violence cannot be justified “at all”.

Attitudes toward Al Qaeda are complex. On average, only three in ten view Osama Bin Laden positively.

There is strong disapproval of attacks by “groups that use violence against civilians, such as Al Qaeda”. Large majorities in Egypt (88%), Indonesia (65%) and Morocco (66%) agree that such groups “are violating the principles of Islam.” Pakistanis are divided, however, with many not answering.

Most view globalisation positively and favour democracy and freedom of religion.

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Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

"The United States cannot simply declare a strategic pause while experimenting with new technologies and operational concepts. Nor can it choose to pursue a transformation strategy that would decouple American and allied interests. A transformation strategy that solely pursued capabilities for projecting force from the United States, for example, and sacrificed forward basing and presence, would be at odds with larger American policy goals and would trouble American allies.

Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event - like a new Pearl Harbor."

  • From Rebuilding America’s Defenses — Strategy, Forces, and Resources for a New Century, pages 50 to 51, Project for the New American Century (PNAC), September 2000
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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

Simply put to answer USA will undermine whatever it needs to in order to protect its interests. The US foreign/security policy is econocentric. For an industrialized nation such as USA, the economy goes hand in hand with resources i.e. oil and mineral wealth but oil most importantly. In todays world even your ability to wage a war diminishes without oil let along economy.

Muslims are do dumb they just can't understand the big picture. The day the Gulf becomes too expensive for importing oil, there interest in exploiting Islam will go down with it. Just unfortunately with the large reserves of proven oil in the Gulf, this exploitation is not going anywhere for the next few decades.

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

And what about the Crusade-Brigade which has imposed its State Terrorism upon Muslim World and involved in killing innocent citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan?
You don't talk about crimes of your favourite people because Crusaders paid you to oppose those who are damaging their interests?

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

I have no idea what your post has to do with what this thread is about or what it had to do with my post, so keeping in the same approach here is my response.

You see, what George Lucas did with the prequel triology was to try and gain yet another generation of kids hooked to his movies, because aside from die hard geeks adults would not buy action figures and all. so for merchandising, he had to target a younger audience, thus jar jar binks. I mean, he did the same with ewoks if you recall. While sci fi techies would be upset, the fact is ucas had to make money and he did so by introducing a few characters that were annoying to the original starwar fans, but he was able to get a whle new generation of fans.

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

of course not. Al-Quaida had nothing to do with 9-11. It was the Boy Scouts of Peoria who did that.

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

yet again ppl forget to see that the overwhelming majority is against attacks on civilians which goes counter to the ignorant questions many ask.

majority of ppl have negatve views of OBL...contrary to what ****s news would tell ya or 666 club err 700 club

the survey here may show that people dont believe al kabong did it, but that is not even material when the overwhelming majority is against attacking civilians and disapprove of extremist groups

majority also support democracy and freedom of religion. very important

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

Why just these 4 countries? All it points to is the level of illiteracy amongst those polled. What more evidence do they want than the videos of bin laden and his gang celebrating, explaining and owning up personally? Plain foolishness bordering on social idiocy

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Re: Only 3 percent of Pakistanis think Al Qaeda conducted 9/11 attacks

even with these 4 countries it shows that people have some sense, lack of education has not kept the majority from understanding what is right and what is wrong, .. its clearly demonstrated in their answers as it pertains to actions against civilians, or disgust with militants etc.

now other countries may have higher literacy levels, but the mentality there is very different. take a similar poll in KSA for example and see what ppl think