Global Attitudes to 9/11

[Rex Brynen]

www.worldpublicopinion.org

International Poll: No Consensus On Who Was Behind 9/11

September 10, 2008

A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 17 nations finds that majorities in only nine of them believe that al Qaeda was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

In no country does a majority agree on another possible perpetrator, but in most countries significant minorities cite the US government itself and, in a few countries, Israel. These responses were given spontaneously to an open-ended question that did not offer response options.

On average, 46 percent say that al Qaeda was behind the attacks while 15 percent say the US government, seven percent Israel, and seven percent some other perpetrator. One in four say they do not know.

...

Even in European countries, the majorities that say al Qaeda was behind 9/11 are not overwhelming. Fifty-six percent of Britons and Italians, 63 percent of French and 64 percent of Germans cite al Qaeda. However, significant portions of Britons (26%), French (23%), and Italians (21%) say they do not know who was behind 9/11. Remarkably, 23 percent of Germans cite the US government, as do 15 percent of Italians.

Publics in the Middle East are especially likely to name a perpetrator other than al Qaeda. In Egypt 43 percent say that Israel was behind the attacks, as do 31 percent in Jordan and 19 percent in the Palestinian Territories. The US government is named by 36 percent of Turks and 27 percent of Palestinians. The numbers who say al Qaeda was behind the attacks range from 11 percent in Jordan to 42 percent in the Palestinian Territories.

The only countries with overwhelming majorities citing al Qaeda are the African countries: Kenya (77%) and Nigeria (71%). In Nigeria, a large majority of Muslims (64%) also say that al Qaeda was behind the attacks (compared to 79% of Nigerian Christians).

[Adam L]

www.worldpublicopinion.org

International Poll: No Consensus On Who Was Behind 9/11

September 10, 2008

The statistics are about what I would expect. Still, I never can quite get my head around why there is such a desire to deny what happened. Even here in the US it is unbelievable the amount of people who are into these conspiracy theories. I'm tired of people telling me the hole in the pentagon was too small for an airplane to have crashed into it. You wouldn't believe how effective showing them them scale drawings of the building and the plane is. I remember listening to Rutherford on September 11 a few years ago when I was in Calgary. Lots of people were calling in with conspiracy theories, etc. I remember one caller calling in and claiming that the plane would have made a bigger hole. I remember Rutherford saying, (something like this) "I don't know if you understand just how big the building is. Three planes could fit wingtip to wingtip on one side of the building." The guy really just didn't get (or bother researching) how big the building is. I always find it somewhat ironic that construction began on the Pentagon September 11, 1941. I know this is a tangent and has been off point, but I really find it interesting how being ignorant to such details can effect peoples opinions so much.

I miss Rutherford and Breakenridge. They were among the few shows anywhere that really report and discuss the news.

Adam L

[AmericanPride]

Just my personal opinion, but I think part of the cause for the problem you cite Adam is that we're an internally informationally-insulated culture (say that three times fast ). We weren't content with simply gating our communities; part of that habit has reached into public discourse.

[William F. Owen]

A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 17 nations finds that majorities in only nine of them believe that al Qaeda was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

...and bear in mind this is probably with the full knowledge that OBL and AQ have taken credit for the attack.

People don't believe things because of evidence or "truth". People believe things because it benefits them to do so. Here lies one of the gaping holes in the ideas underpinning "information operations," or "military influence."

If perception is reality, then the reality has to be recognised as one beyond any collective control, unless you are prepared to use apply some type of coercive pressure so that those you seek to effect, do so because they have no other choice.

[Adam L]

Just my personal opinion, but I think part of the cause for the problem you cite Adam is that we're an internally informationally-insulated culture (say that three times fast ). We weren't content with simply gating our communities; part of that habit has reached into public discourse.

Most people today do not feel "safe" unless they are not only physically safe, but ignorant enough to feel secure. This ignorance allows them to feel safe by having a very simplistic view of the world that they can comprehend. From this they are able to gain a sense of security because they now are able to feel as though they can in some way have some control over, or way of reacting to, the world. Today, the vast amount of these people are transforming public discourse into something more in tune with their world view. Is that what you are getting at?

Adam L

[Rex Brynen]

I'm rather intrigued by some of the contrasts--why are Mexicans less likely than Palestinians (for example) to believe that al-Qa'ida was responsible? Why do more French than Brits believe the US? (etc)

[Van]

It astounds me. An American medical doctor has lectured me on how the U.S. government "was behind 9/11", needlessly multiplying entities, and boldly assuming competence and perfect secrecy on the part of the U.S. Government (the one that can't even cover up mislaid nukes...). I got so fed up with his self-congratulatory nonsense and proud prounouncements that he was privy to the 'real' story that I lost my temper a little. I looked him square in the eye and asked him why he couldn't accept that three dozen third-world scumbags with box cutters and bad personal hygiene changed the Manhattan skyline.

The reaction was remarkable. He started howling that there was no way this could be the case.

<sigh> I fear for the Republic.

[Adam L]

I'm rather intrigued by some of the contrasts--why are Mexicans less likely than Palestinians (for example) to believe that al-Qa'ida was responsible? Why do more French than Brits believe the US? (etc)

I think the Palestinians would like to believe that al-Qai'da was responsible. Sort of a pride/bragging rights thing. The Mexicans don't really get any pride or bragging rights if al-Qai'da was really responsible.

Adam L

[William F. Owen]

I'm rather intrigued by some of the contrasts--why are Mexicans less likely than Palestinians (for example) to believe that al-Qa'ida was responsible?

Well you may want to ask why more folk in Egypt and Jordan (two countries with peace treaties with Israel and to which most Israelis can travel) believe Israel was responsible, than the Israeli occupied or isolated Palestinians.