Pew: Arab Spring does little to improve US image in the region

Natalie Gonnella
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With the upcoming visit of Israel Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu (who will speak to a joint session of Congress), and as President Obama prepares to make a "major" speech tomorrow regarding US policy in the Middle East, new survey analysis from the Pew Center reveals that little has changed in relation to America's image within the region.

Despite wide spread pro-democracy movements, according to Pew's latest poll data, perceptions of the US have grown more negative since the onset of the "Arab Spring" in the Middle East:

The image of the United States remains overwhelmingly negative in predominantly Muslim countries. U.S. favorability ratings are low in nearly all of the Muslim nations surveyed, and majorities or pluralities in all seven say the U.S. does not take the interests of countries like theirs into account when making foreign policy decisions. Moreover, many continue to see the U.S. as a potential military threat to their countries.

U.S. President Barack Obama also receives low marks in largely Muslim countries...Obama’s handling of issues in the Muslim world, including the recent uprisings in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran and Afghanistan, are met with disapproval.

Pew also adds that: 

Attitudes toward the U.S. are more negative than they were a year ago in four of the seven predominantly Muslim countries surveyed. 

The full results of Pew Center's latest analysis is available to view here.