Leaders of "Entire Arab World" for John Kerry

Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode CCXXI

That's what The Guardian, a British publication, says today (emphasis in original):

Shortly before Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, flew to Washington for talks with George Bush last month, a journalist asked if he was going to say goodbye to the president ahead of the US elections in November. Mr Schröder's adviser grinned broadly before composing his face into a frown. "I won't speculate on that," he said.

Although Mr Schröder deliberately avoided the Democratic candidate, John Kerry, during his two-day trip to the US, there is little doubt that a Kerry victory would provoke rejoicing inside Germany's government, as it would in many other parts of Europe, as well as Asia, Africa and Latin America.

This week Mr Kerry claimed that foreign leaders had told him they could not publicly offer him their support but added: "You've got to beat this guy, we need a new policy." ....

Mr Schröder's spokesman last night denied he was one of the "foreign leaders" who had sent a secret message of support to Mr Kerry.

Victor Bulmer-Thomas, director of Royal Institute for International Affairs, in London, said yesterday he doubted if any head of government had been unwise enough to say in private to Mr Kerry that they wanted him to win and thought it more likely that the "foreign leaders" to whom the Democratic candidate referred to were foreign secretaries or heads of parliamentary delegations.

He said there was a difference between how a second Bush presidency was perceived by the "masses" — who wanted shot of Mr Bush in the belief there would be a return to a golden age — and the elite — who were not convinced there ever had been a golden age and leaned towards "better the devil you know"....

How the world lines up

How foreign leaders are believed to view the rivals:

For Kerry
Germany
France
Entire Arab world
Most of Latin America

Neutral/unknown
Britain
Russia
Israel
Iraq

For Bush
Spain
Italy
Pakistan
Azerbaijan
Eritrea
Uzbekistan

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 03/10/04 07:09:26 PM
Categorized as Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode & John Kerry.