The ANNOTICO Report
What an obviously sensible idea.
Contrary to America's idea that either you believe as
We do, or you are our Enemy.
"Either You are WITH us, OR AGAINST us". GWB
Angus Reid Global Scan
August 5, 2005
Many adults in Italy believe the war on terror should
also entail a better
understanding of different religions, according to a
poll by Istituto
Piepoli published in La Stampa.
71 per cent of respondents say the west should combat
terrorism, while also
establishing a dialogue with the moderate Islamic world.
In September 2001, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi
declared, "We
must be aware of the superiority of our civilization,
a system that has
guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and—in
contrast with
Islamic countries—respect for religious and political
rights."
In October 2001, Berlusconi issued a statement to clarify
his remarks,
which read, "The prime minister (has a) deep respect
for Islam, a great
religion with more than one billion followers which preaches
tolerance
(and) the respect of human rights."
In 2003, Berlusconi committed more than 2,000 Italian
soldiers to the war
in Iraq—the third largest contingent of the United States-led
coalition—who
are currently participating in peacekeeping duties. In
March, Berlusconi
announced "a gradual reduction of the number of our soldiers
in Iraq." The
process is scheduled to start in September, provided
security conditions
are reasonable.
On Jul. 7, four blasts in London killed at least 53 people
and injured 700
more. Investigators say three British nationals of Pakistani
descent and a
Jamaican-born man were responsible for the explosions
at three underground
stations and a double-decker bus. Authorities believe
the event was a
coordinated suicide bombing, the first to ever occur
in Western Europe.
Polling Data
Which of these statements do you agree with the most?
We are at war with the whole Islamic world, and
it is a clash of
civilizations based on religion .....23%
We should combat terrorism, while also establishing a
dialogue with the
moderate Islamic world....71%
No opinion....6%
Source: Istituto Piepoli / La Stampa
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 505 Italian adults,
conducted on
Jul. 25, 2005. No margin of error was provided.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/
index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/8385