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Americans Keep Low Trust In United Nations
(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Few adults in the United States have a positive assessment of the United Nations (UN), according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 32 per cent of respondents approve of the job the organization is doing.
Last October, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan dismissed assertions that the U.S.-led coalition effort in Iraq had made the world more secure, saying, "I cannot say the world is safer when you consider the violence around us, when you look around you and see the terrorist attacks around the world and you see what is going on in Iraq."
Allegations that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein may have used the Oil-for-Food program for his own benefit through illegal payments and bribes have surfaced over the past few months. Annan named a three-man independent inquiry committee—headed by former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker—to review the program. A final report is expected later this year.
The Oil-for-Food program provided humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people during Hussein's regime. The UN handled the program's operations from 1996 to 2003, allowing Hussein's government to export oil and use the proceeds to buy food and medicine. Annan's son Kojo worked and acted as a consultant for Cotecna, a Switzerland-based firm hired by the UN to oversee the Oil-for-Food program.
On Feb. 20, UN high commissioner for refugees Ruud Lubbers resigned following allegations of sexual harassment.
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of the job the United Nations (UN) is doing?
Mar. 2005 | Sept. 2003 | |
Approve | 32% | 31% |
Disapprove | 46% | 52% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 900 American registered voters, conducted on Mar. 1 and Mar. 2, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
