Russia, Iran lose minds and hearts in Middle East
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian allies across the region depend on his country's large arsenal of weapons to pursue his foreign policies in the Middle East. However, his damaged reputation has showed shown signs of improvement of late due to his so-called international efforts to contain DAESH, and when it comes to the Syrian peace process, the United States believes it cannot act without Russia. The U.S. depends on Russian support in the UN Security Council to include DAESH in the financial sanctions regime that is to be updated this month. Both countries somehow managed to agree to back the new resolution essential to prevent DAESH access to the international financial system.
Recent polls, however, show that Russia's military operations, which target humanitarian aid convoys, hospitals and civilians, are further diminishing Moscow's reputation in the region. Both the Iranian and Iraqi governments share the same fate since they have disenfranchised Sunnis across the area due to their sectarian policies and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.
According to the latest Zogby Research Services survey on the major crisis in the Middle East, the majority of people residing in major Arab countries and Turkey believe that Russian support for Assad is responsible for the chaos in Syria: 100 percent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 95 percent in Saudi Arabia, 90 percent in Egypt, 81 percent in Turkey, 68 percent in Jordan and 65 percent in Lebanon. On the other hand, 68 percent of Iranian participants did not agree that Russia was responsible.
The research also underscores the enmity toward Iranian policies in the region. The survey indicates that Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard contribute significantly to the conflict in Syria: 96 percent in Egypt, 88 percent in Saudi Arabia, 84 percent in the UAE and 74 percent in Jordan. Only respondents in Lebanon and Iran disagreed with that the statement.
While Iran and Russia increase their negative propaganda about Turkish humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and logistical support for Syrian opposition forces, the majority of survey respondents are not buying it and do not believe that Gulf countries and Turkey are significantly contributing to the Syrian conflict: 53 percent in Egypt, 75 percent in Lebanon and 74 percent in Jordan. Even 50 percent of Iranians believe that these countries are not responsible.The poll, which was conducted in September via face-to-face interviews with 7,400 people in eight countries, also clearly indicates that the fallout in Iraq discredited the central government in Baghdad. The sectarian governance of former Prime Minister Nouri Al al-Maliki is seen as the mainly responsible for the violent crisis in the country. The majority of respondents in all countries, including Lebanon and Iran, believe that a significant factor in the Iraqi conflict was that Baghdad does did not represent all Iraqis.
Of course, Iranian involvement is also blamed. In five of the seven countries surveyed, large majorities consider Iranian intervention a significant factor in the Iraqi conflict: 94 percent inEgypt, 85 percent in the UAE, 82 percent in Turkey, 75 percent in Saudi Arabia and 72 percent in Jordan. Only where there are a considerable number of Shiite citizens did respondents disagree with this interpretation. This also signifies the sectarian tensions in these countries.
In all the countries in which the survey was conducted, DAESH is accused of inciting serious conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Unfortunately however, anti-DAESH sentiment in the region and around the world has not spread to the people of Mosul, who suffer from both DAESH terrorism and coalition airstrikes and are increasingly alienated by the Baghdad government. While Russia and Iran play their grandiose imperialistic games in the region, causing further harm, some analysts believe DAESH continues to fortify its support base in Mosul and enhance its pose as a savior by providing better services to the people.
Regrettably, the Russian and Iranian governments are not ashamed of what they are doing, and public polls may have no effect on their policies or actions, but at least the statistics prove that they have already lost the propaganda war.
Recent polls, however, show that Russia's military operations, which target humanitarian aid convoys, hospitals and civilians, are further diminishing Moscow's reputation in the region. Both the Iranian and Iraqi governments share the same fate since they have disenfranchised Sunnis across the area due to their sectarian policies and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.
According to the latest Zogby Research Services survey on the major crisis in the Middle East, the majority of people residing in major Arab countries and Turkey believe that Russian support for Assad is responsible for the chaos in Syria: 100 percent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 95 percent in Saudi Arabia, 90 percent in Egypt, 81 percent in Turkey, 68 percent in Jordan and 65 percent in Lebanon. On the other hand, 68 percent of Iranian participants did not agree that Russia was responsible.
The research also underscores the enmity toward Iranian policies in the region. The survey indicates that Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard contribute significantly to the conflict in Syria: 96 percent in Egypt, 88 percent in Saudi Arabia, 84 percent in the UAE and 74 percent in Jordan. Only respondents in Lebanon and Iran disagreed with that the statement.
While Iran and Russia increase their negative propaganda about Turkish humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and logistical support for Syrian opposition forces, the majority of survey respondents are not buying it and do not believe that Gulf countries and Turkey are significantly contributing to the Syrian conflict: 53 percent in Egypt, 75 percent in Lebanon and 74 percent in Jordan. Even 50 percent of Iranians believe that these countries are not responsible.The poll, which was conducted in September via face-to-face interviews with 7,400 people in eight countries, also clearly indicates that the fallout in Iraq discredited the central government in Baghdad. The sectarian governance of former Prime Minister Nouri Al al-Maliki is seen as the mainly responsible for the violent crisis in the country. The majority of respondents in all countries, including Lebanon and Iran, believe that a significant factor in the Iraqi conflict was that Baghdad does did not represent all Iraqis.
Of course, Iranian involvement is also blamed. In five of the seven countries surveyed, large majorities consider Iranian intervention a significant factor in the Iraqi conflict: 94 percent inEgypt, 85 percent in the UAE, 82 percent in Turkey, 75 percent in Saudi Arabia and 72 percent in Jordan. Only where there are a considerable number of Shiite citizens did respondents disagree with this interpretation. This also signifies the sectarian tensions in these countries.
In all the countries in which the survey was conducted, DAESH is accused of inciting serious conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Unfortunately however, anti-DAESH sentiment in the region and around the world has not spread to the people of Mosul, who suffer from both DAESH terrorism and coalition airstrikes and are increasingly alienated by the Baghdad government. While Russia and Iran play their grandiose imperialistic games in the region, causing further harm, some analysts believe DAESH continues to fortify its support base in Mosul and enhance its pose as a savior by providing better services to the people.
Regrettably, the Russian and Iranian governments are not ashamed of what they are doing, and public polls may have no effect on their policies or actions, but at least the statistics prove that they have already lost the propaganda war.
Last Update: December 17, 2015 01:51