Washington - Most Muslims want US military forces out of the Middle East and Islamic countries and many agree with Al-Qaeda's goals, if not its tactics, suggested a public opinion poll conducted in Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Indonesia.
"Most respondents have mixed feelings about Al-Qaeda," said a statement of the study's findings, conducted by the Washington-based nonprofit group WorldPublicOpinion.org and the University of Maryland.
"Large majorities agree with many of its goals, but believe that terrorist attacks on civilians are contrary to Islam."
An average of 74 per cent of all those polled agreed with the goal of "push(ing) the US to remove its bases and military forces from all Islamic countries," said the poll.
A full 91 per cent of Egyptians and 69 per cent of Moroccans said they approved of attacks against US soldiers in Iraq, while 61 per cent of Indonesians disapproved. Pakistanis appeared divided on the matter, with 31 per cent for such attacks and 33 per cent against.
The survey found similar responses with regard to US forces in Afghanistan and the Gulf.
At least 70 per cent or more in all countries supported the goals of "stand(ing) up to Americans and affirm(ing) the dignity of the Islamic people," and "pressur(ing) the United States not to favor Israel," it said.
Those polled were asked whether they thought certain ideas were the goals of Al-Qaeda or groups inspired by the Osama bin Laden-led militant network, and then were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed, somewhat or strongly, with those goals.
Most agreed that Al-Qaeda goals included requiring a strict application of Islamic, or sharia, law in every Islamic country, pushing US military forces out of all Islamic countries, and keeping Western values out of Islamic countries -- and most were supportive of those aims.
( I.E. No freedom, No Guys, No Music, No drinking, No out of marriage sex, No movies, no equal rights for women but strick subservent roles for women, Killing any Hifra is acceptable and or anyone who converts to another reglion, ALL law is dictated by Cleric and no secularism for free enterpise.)
Asked about Al-Qaeda's attitudes and tactics in general, 25 per cent of Egyptians and 15 per cent of Indonesians said they "support Al-Qaeda's attacks on Americans and share its attitudes toward the US," along with nine per cent of Moroccans and 10 per cent of Pakistanis.
Nearly 33%, one third, of those polled in Egypt and Morocco said they agreed with "many of" Al-Qaeda's attitudes toward the United States but "oppose Al-Qaeda's attacks on Americans." Twenty-four per cent in Indonesia and six per cent in Pakistan took this view.
Less than 33%,one third, said they disagreed with both Al-Qaeda's attitudes and its attacks on Americans, with 31 per cent of Egyptians, 29 per cent of Indonesians and 26 per cent of Moroccans and 16 per cent in Pakistan.
A large number of Pakistanis chose not to answer the question, with 68 per cent saying they refuse/don't know. Significant sections of the other groups also declined to answer, including 35 per cent of Moroccans, 32 per cent of Indonesians and 14 per cent of Egyptians.
(Theocratic intimidation or fear of thsoe who they say they support?)
A wider range of opinions was found regarding the question of suicide bombers and whether their actions could be justified often, sometimes, rarely or never.
41%, Forty-one per cent, of Egyptians said "an attack in which a Muslim blows himself up while attacking an enemy" is often justified, while 19 per cent said "sometimes" and 28 per cent said "never."
However, 68 per cent of Indonesians and 60 per cent of Pakistanis were strongly opposed to suicide tactics.
Most Egyptians, Indonesians and Moroccans said establishing a Palestinian state was not a US goal, and sweeping majorities in all countries -- including 89 per cent in Egypt and 63 per cent in Morocco -- responded that the United States was controlling most or nearly all of what happens in the world today.
The poll was conducted from December to February through in-home interviews by native Arabic, Indonesian and Urdu language speakers with around 1,000 people in each country. The margin of error was between three and four per cent.
Agence France Presse
