Countries included in poll: Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates.  Polls were conducted in May 2004.  

Summary of Poll Results: Subject headings are followed by complete text of question used in survey, highlighted findings, and tables with results by country.   

Iraqi Sovereignty

Question: The US is planning to transfer sovereignty to Iraq in June 2004.  Which of the following represents your views more closely? 

Respondents were given the following options: (1) If the transfer takes place, it will be a big positive change that may usher in a new and better Iraq, (2) This will only be a cosmetic change that will not fundamentally change the situation, (3) The transfer will create more chaos. 

 

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
Positive change	10%	11	16	2	14	<1
Cosmetic only	61	61	51	73	55	66
More chaos	23	20	28	23	17	30

 A majority of respondents in all countries thought that the transfer would only be a cosmetic change, ranging from 51% of Lebanese respondents to 73% of Saudi respondents.  Approximately 20% of respondents felt that the transfer would create more chaos, ranging from 17% of respondents in UAE to 30% of respondents in Egypt.  Prospects for a positive change were unlikely to most respondents, although 14% of Emiratis and 16% of Lebanese reported that the planned transfer would be a big positive change.  

The War in Iraq: More or Less Terrorism? 

Question: In your view, did the war in Iraq bring more terrorism or less terrorism toward the US?  

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
More terrorism	71%	84	64	90	82	94
Less terrorism	8	5	25	2	4	1
Neither	17	8	10	7	6	5

The majority of respondents agreed that the war would result in more terrorism against the US, ranging from 64% in Lebanon to 94% in Egypt.   25% of  Lebanese respondents felt that the war would deter terrorism against the US, although Jordanian, Moroccan, Emirati, Saudi and Egyptian respondents felt significantly less confident of this, with scores of 8%, 5%, 4%, 2% and 1% respectively.   

The War in Iraq: More or Less Democracy? 

Question: In your view, did the war in Iraq bring more democracy or less democracy? 

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
More democracy	4%	2	7	2	6	NA
Less democracy	69	82	57	58	63	56
Neither	25	14	36	40	23	42

 Again, the majority of respondents felt that US actions were detrimental to international goals, this time in terms of democratization. 56% of respondents in Egypt, 57% in Lebanon, 58% in Saudi Arabia, 63% in UAE, 69% in Jordan and 82% in Morocco thought the war brought less democracy.  In no country polled did more than 7% of respondents feel that the US-led war brought more democracy and no Egyptians responded likewise.  The response rate for more democracy was 7% for Lebanon, 6% for UAE, 4% for Jordan, and 2% each for Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

US Motives in Iraq 

Question: When the US went to war with Iraq, how important do you think were the following motives?  

Respondents were asked to score the following motivations on a scale from 1 to 5;

1 being not important and 5 being extremely important.   Below are percentages for respondents reporting that they saw the corresponding motivation as “extremely important.”  The possible motivations were: (1) Controlling oil, (2) Protecting Israel, (3) Promoting Peace and Stability in the Middle East, (4) Spreading Democracy, (5) Freeing the Iraqi people of oppression, (6) Desire to dominate the region, (7) Preventing the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction, (8) Weakening the Muslim World.    

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
Oil	61%	88	78	45	85	83
Protect Israel	64	82	82	44	78	92
Peace/ stability	28	10	45	11	5	14
Democracy	25	6	44	7	5	8
Iraqi Oppression	30	9	43	14	10	9
Domination of Muslim World	59	77	76	43	77	45
Preventing WMD	30	13	59	42	16	16
Weakening Muslim world	51	75	61	47	73	60

Negative views of US motivations are most prevalent in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and UAE, where controlling oil and protecting Israel receive scores of above 75% in extreme importance.  Saudi respondents were more likely to rate these motivations as “very important” rather than “extremely important.”  Respondents do feel that preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was a valid US goal.  Although they are critical of the US for its interests in oil and protecting Israel, Lebanese respondents also give reasonably high scores for US motivations in terms of peace/stability and democracy.  Jordan also gives the US a relatively high score for its democratic motivations.   

Identity 

Question: There are various aspects to one’s sense of self or identity.  Some are more important than others.  When you think about yourself, which of the following is your most important identity?  Which is your second most important identity?   

In the first question respondents were given five options for their primary identity, (1) As a citizen of your country, (2) As an Arab (3) As a Muslim (4) As a citizen of the world (cosmopolitan) and (5) not sure.  In the second question respondents were given the same five options for their secondary identity, (1) As a citizen of your country, (2) As an Arab (3) As a Muslim (4) As a citizen of the world and (5) not sure.   

Primary Identity 

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
Citizen	26%	38	77	34	19	59
Arab	29	6	12	10	11	20
Muslim	33	48	3	56	66	17
As a citizen of the world	6	8	8	<1	1	NA
Not sure	3	0	0	0	3	5

The number of respondents identifying themselves primarily as Muslims is highest in Saudi Arabia and UAE, 56% and 66% respectively.  Jordanian and Moroccan respondents also identify primarily as Muslims, but with lower numbers, 33% and 48% respectively.  In Lebanon and Egypt respondents identify themselves primarily as citizens of their own country with a 77% and 59% identification rate, respectively.  Most secondary identities were Arab, although in Morocco and respondents identified themselves as Moroccan citizens at 32%, and as Arabs at 28%, while in Egypt the Muslim identity ranked slightly higher than Arab at 37% and 35% respectively.     

Secondary Identity 

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
Citizen	22%	32	13	23	31	14
Arab	41	28	46	38	41	35
Muslim	13	27	6	34	24	37
As a citizen of the world	6	11	25	<1	2	9
Not sure	15	2	7	3	2	<1

 Clergy and Politics

Respondents were asked to choose the statement that best fit their feelings.  Statement A: Religion must be respected, but clergy should not dictate the political system.  OR Statement B: Clergy must play a greater role in our political system.  

Which statement do you agree with more? 

	Jordan	Morocco	Lebanon	Saudi Arabia	UAE	Egypt
“Religion must be respected, but clergy should not dictate the political system.”	36%	51	50	33	25	50
“Clergy must play a greater role in our political system.”	42	33	28	48	45	47
Neither	16	12	22	19	21	2