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Video- US increasingly loses its status in Middle East


The aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 dramatically increased an already negative view towards the United States and its policies in the Middle East.

We took to the streets of Beirut, known to be the heart of the Middle East to ask about the perception of the US now, ten years after the attacks.

A Syrian citizen we interviewed said that the US must adopt a policy that is more in touch with the people of the region if it wanted to improve the negative image projected from the policies after September 11.

Others believe that only limited progress has been made in this area with the new administration of Barak Obama.

It is widely believed that the policies of the Bush administration after September 11 gave rise to Islamophobia: a stereotyping which casts Muslims as potential terrorists.

This together with the wars launched by the Bush administration on Afghanistan and Iraq cost life of a great number of civilians, dramatically increased anti American sentiments throughout the region.

Analysts maintain that even if adjustments are made to this US policy in the end the only thing that will really shift the perception of America in the Middle East is a shift in its stance towards Israel: an issue which goes way back before Sept 11 2001.

On the tenth anniversary of September 11 attacks the popular revolutions sweeping the Arab world have shown just how high people’s anti -Israeli sentiments run. This can only mean more hostility towards the US as long as its support for Israel continues.

The American policies following September 11, 2001 brought unprecedented opposition to US regional policies and presence. This is said to have badly damaged the US status in the Middle East and given rise to other regional players who stand at odds with Washington and its alliance with Israel.

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