A country with a bad name

[Scurrilous]

International poll – Nations Brands Index – reveals consistently low rankings in perception of Israel in variety of categories

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3331279,00.html

<snip>

"Israel is the worst 'brand' in the world, according to a poll that measured the international perception of 36 nations in a quarterly index.

The Nation Brands Index (NBI), meant to indicate "how the world sees the world", was authored by government advisor Simon Anholt – considered a nations brands expert - and powered by Global Market Insite, Inc.

The Index surveyed over 25,000 online consumers across 35 countries about their perceptions of those countries across six areas of national competence: Investment and Immigration, Exports, Culture and Heritage, People, Governance and Tourism.

Each time, there is an additional 'guest' nation, whose citizens are also asked to give their opinion about their own country. In the third quarter, coinciding with the Lebanon war, the guest was Israel.

Israel was ranked last, coming in after countries such as Indonesia (34), Egypt (29) and China (19). The United Kingdom was ranked first, followed by Germany and Italy.

"Israel's brand is by a considerable margin the most negative we have ever measured in the NBI, and comes bottom of the ranking on almost every question," stated Anholt."

[Behind the Aegis]

1. No surprises.

[Englander]

9. Yep, it's the ongoing war crimes that wreck the image. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Unlike the US, England, and the many other countries mired in Iraq.

[Englander]

12. 'Look! Over there!'

Hilarious.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Not so much as "Look, they are doing it too. Why the discrepancy?"

[Englander]

16. It's a conspiracy?

But, at least there's the breakthrough that you agree that Israel's committed, & is continuing to
commit, war crimes.

[IntiRaymi]

17. Of course it is a conspiracy! It always is!

If Israel is caught red handed committing something infragranti delicto, it is the fault of the detective, not Israel!

[Englander]

24. It's out there, y'know.

The *truth*. HonestReporting, GIYUS, & zombietime are on the case, though. With the help of keyboard
warriors the length & breadth of the US, they'll should uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. ;)

[Behind the Aegis]

19. Not a conspiracy, bias in action.

A conspiracy would be that Israel is intent on committing genocide of the Palestinian people through their apartheid, theocratic nation, and are trying to colonize the Middle East, whilst being a puppet (puppetmaster) for the US (insert other nation). That's a conspiracy.

[Boston Critic]

21. What nonsense

The war crimes are being committed by Syria and Iran in helping to arm Hamas and Hezbollah, both of who deliberately *targeted* civilians.

But of course when Israelis are victims, you don't see any crime at all.

[Englander]

23. Feck off. n/t

[IntiRaymi]

14. Silly us, to focus on Israel/Palestine

In the Israel/Palestine forum.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Silly is not reading the entire article and realizing it is not just Israel...

...being discussed.

[k_jerome]

18. actually its millenia old hatred of jews. Had Israel existed during...

WWII, it would have edged out Germany, Italy and Japan for that honor.

[Boston Critic]

22. You're right, of course

I wonder how long your honest and accurate posting will be permitted to stand.

[Boston Critic]

20. Correction, it's the false ACCUSATIONS

of war crimes that do the damage.

[Englander]

25. Like these?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=156073&mesg_id=156683

And, shouldn't you address the question about false accusations of war crimes, to Mr Aegis?
Since he agreed with the statement that Israel's committing war crimes;

Not so much as "Look, they are doing it too. Why the discrepancy?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x156073#156422

[Boston Critic]

26. No, the question was properly address to you

Israel hasn't committed "war crimes." They haven't deliberately tried to murder and maim civilians. That's your beloved Palestinians do that, like the suicide bombing granny who, this week, fortunately only took her only life and failed to kill any Israelis.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. I wonder where the US ranked...

All things being fair, it should have ranked lowly as well. I'd be interested in looking at the poll itself coz it looks interesting especially how it polled people across those six areas...

[Scurrilous]

4. Link:

www.nationbrandindex.com.

Looks like you might have to register (and possibly pay) to read the whole report.

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Thanks for the linky n/t

[Porcupine]

3. Below Rwanda, Sudan and N. Korea huh?

I wondered how they got such a bad rap? Bulldozing unarmed young women protectig a water source wouldn't do it? Could it be bombing apartment blocks full of women and children?

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Three countries not included in the poll.

But, would you rank Israel below those three countries?

[Porcupine]

8. Despite Israels many crimes, No. On the same list though.

.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. About the US

source

U.S. self-confidence waning

The Index underlines, amongst many other factors, the role national politics play in shaping world perceptions about a country. Interestingly, it has also revealed cracks in America’s self-perceptions of itself. This quarter, domestic respondents ranked their country sixth for governance - after Canada, Switzerland, the UK, Australia and Sweden. In contrast, just over a year ago – NBI Q3 2005 – Americans ranked themselves top in all six areas of national competence.

The Index underlines, amongst many other factors, the role national politics play in shaping world perceptions about a country. Interestingly, it has also revealed cracks in America’s self-perceptions of itself. This quarter, domestic respondents ranked their country sixth for governance - after Canada, Switzerland, the UK, Australia and Sweden. In contrast, just over a year ago – NBI Q3 2005 – Americans ranked themselves top in all six areas of national competence.

Anholt concludes: “At this rate, the U.S. will rank themselves down with the Chinese and the Russians by mid-2007, so perhaps it’s a good thing that there have been elections.”

[IntiRaymi]

10. The USA has taken a vicious Public Image hit.

Bad leadership.
It is as simple as that...bad leadership promoted by hate radio, fundamentalist christianity, corporate influence in government, and all around capitalist ideals.

Thank goodness Milton Friedman is dead. Hopefully his ruinous legacy will also die soon.