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I'm sure if we continue to be sensitive morons we will end up like the French. It just goes to show that we have no friends. The world should kiss our ass for the sacrifices we've made. I'd rather be feared than liked. That's the price of leadership.

I think we should ask the European leaders if they would like us to leave their countries. We could leave small contingents of troops and redeploy them to where they're needed most. I could think of a few. I wonder what the world would say when we controlled the oil. Or maybe that's all the world is worried about. I wonder if the world really cares about mankind and the future. Let them all sit in their cafe, smoke and get cancer. -- Wyrms67

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As an American who has lived and worked in Europe for some 20 years, and has strong ties to Europe going back another decade prior, I cannot help but feel that you had your finger on the pulse of things when writing this article.I have never previously encountered such animosity towards things American as I have in the last 18 months, and not only within the European Union, but also in Eastern European nations, and even in the likes of Switzerland where people are not typically noted for taking heated political views regarding any other country.

I can imagine, without knowing better, that the US press has not been quick to point out the anger publicly expressed by British companies when they found that they were to play second fiddle to US companies as regards reconstruction contracts in Iraq ---- and this in spite of the UK being the US' "special partner" during the Iraq hostilities.

Anyone who feels that the current US foreign policies will not impact on current and future sales of American products and services abroad is kidding himself. The world has clearly developed a 'them and us' attitude, not surprising in light of a US president telling foreigners that they 'are either with us or against us'. -- John Sturgeon, Great Britain

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Jon -- As an American living in New Zealand I read your article on US brands abroad with interest. Anti US feelings here go back pre GW Bush. Living here on the bottom of the planet in the most British country outside Britain I read a lot of columns from here and also from UK publications such as the Observer and the Guardian.

Journalism outside the US I feel is more opinionated and subjective than US news. I have in the last 4 years here read daily negative andcritical articles about many facets of US lifestyle that are very twisted in the way the facts are presented . The list is long and here's just a few.

The breakfast food market is dominated by 3 companies who price fix and drive smaller competitors out. All American's drive large SUV's and big 8 cylinder cars an pollute the air. Americans don't get anyinternational news and know nothing outside of their country. The American form of government is based on a outdated Constitution andother nations governmental bodies such as the UK parliament is a more effective form of government. America is out to destroy the agriculture of the world with GMO's. This goes on and on. But as they rubbish the US they all look at the US market as the ONE.

When the US dollar goes down against the AU or NZ dollar thats terrible as it impacts their ability to sell in the US against US manufacturersand farmers. So yes they think negative thoughts about the US but then demand more trade access for their goods.The biggest export market here for export beef is the US but if you ask people they would say Europe or Japan which buy together maybe 25% of what the US buys . So they don't even know how big a customer the US is of their products.

A lot of the mis-information comes from TV media which seems to select the worst of a days events in the US. I guess its like watching DanRather say how bad the economy is and then watching CNBC for several hours and hearing details about how the economy is growing.But US brands are here the new and old, GM Australia makes the most popular cars for both NZ and AU markets, with Ford no2 in AU and 3 in NZ. Both have been in these markets for well over 70 years. Westinghouseappliances, Mobil, Caltex, Valvoline, AC, CRC, DAP, Planters peanuts, Californian citrus, raisins, Hunts BBQ sauce, Coke, Pepsi, Oceanspray. I have lived here several times and there are more US consumer goods for sale here then at any time in the past. US computer and software firms dominate.

But these markets are years behind US consumers in a variety of products and services. Theres a new Krispy Kreme store in Sydney thats not doing well because.... they don't eat doughnuts in these places, not familiar with them. Starbucks are primarily in tourist areas, Taco Bell opened several stores in Sydney and are closing some. Consumers don't eat Mexican. I guess the moral of the story is that just because it works in the US you can't expect it to work outside the US. There are 600 Fish and Chip shops in New Zealand. Thats probably how many there are in the US.

Tyco by the way having gone on its buying binge of all varieties of companies has all sorts of divisions here and know one recognizes it as a US firm.

Overall I think the US is guitly of being too nice and gets ex[;poted in trade, currency manipulation and is sometimes naive in its appreciation of other countries who don't appreciate it. – Dean Tatro

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THE LIST OF COUNTRIES YOU MENTIONED ON THE MOST PART ARE COUNTRIES THAT EITHER ARE ISLAMIC & HATE FREEDOM FOR THEIR CITIZENS OR COUNTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP AGAINST EVIL.

I COULD CARE LESS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT US! IN THE END THE US IS THE GREATEST HOPE FOR WORLD PEACE & PROSPERITY. – JACK R.

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You failed to point out in your column that much of this began about 6 years ago when we invaded Jugoslavia and baombed the Chinese Embassy, the Aspirin factory in the Sudan and the generally "bad light" the Leader of the free world was shining by lieing under oath in a federal courtroom. Also when the EU sees the US government gouge Microsoft don't you think they want in on a little action from the best co in the world as well? – BJSKWASH

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I FEEL THIS ARTICLE IS PURE LEFT-WING GARBAGE. IF ANYTHING, I AM NOW ENCOURAGED TO BUY MORE OF THE COMPANIES YOU MENTIONED. IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS TO BE EXPOSED TO THE LIBERAL MEDIA IN ITS NEWS STORIES---DO WE NOW HAVE TO FACE IT IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR AS WELL?

PEOPLE OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR US NOW (THE CONSUMERS) SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN A STAND AGAINST TERRORISM. OF COURSE THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR NEWS MEDIA; ALL WE HEAR ABOUT ARE THE WEAK-KNEED "LEADERS" OF SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHO ARE AFRAID OF THEIR OWN SHADOWS WHO TALK LARGE BUT PERFORM SMALL.

COMPANIES LIKE PROCTOR & GAMBLE WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM WELL BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE & MARKET QUALITY PRODUCTS---WHETHER YOU'RE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, OR FRANCE. I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING. THANKS FOR LISTENING. -- TERRY WEBER

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Well, we should be an isolationist country. We give everything away and give those so called wine bags who want our jobs a free ride. I say good bye to Globalisim. Being Global stinks, and it is eroding our (America's) way of life, not to mention our economy. – Godzilla

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Jon, your article reflects a true picture of what USA is today. However a worsening of USA image abroad is a fact with unforeseeable consequences. Since the fall of communism, USA had a golden opportunity to shape the planet according their own wishes, instead of pushing to extreme capitalistic profit oriented setting. The times when USA was regarded as the great and good friend are long gone... when Kissinger said USA don't have friends but only interests around the world, this is a worrysome sympton.

USSR collapsed because its citizens lost trust in their government, and the mass comunication played an important role in all that. Now we have USA as the most powerful country, but many countries around the world have lost trust in them, not only at government level but also a average citizen level. Mass comunication plays an important role in all this. The fact that USA tries to defend their supremacy with military power could backfire. Diplomacy and acceptance of chances are key factors, like another economic reality like EU, rising of China and India.

Terrorism is handled in the wrong way. Terrorism needs to be studied and investigated as effect not as cause. If you don't conquer the mind and heart of a billion muslins, you are bound for defeat. Look the last century when Lenin and Hither were wanted by police as criminals, no one would ever imagined they would leave and indelible mark in the recent history, so who can predict what influence has some terrorists leaders on the Islam.

In short and long term I don't see any reversed trend on the USA situation around the world. I have not idea what the solution would be, maybe it is a historic cycle. -- Bruno Gasparini

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Jon -- Excellent article. I think though you have either ignored or are unaware of the growing resentment in Canada. We are the closest neighbor and a long time trading partner. In fact if you fill a room with people from both countries it is often difficult to to tell who is from where. Short sighted politicians, bent upon re-election and isolationist executive ideology has done much to create mistrust across our border. The ongoing lumber issues, fisheries etc. the US is being seen as a bully simply consumed with self interests. The rest of the world watches - and thinks. If the US is happy to screw their nearest neighbor and best trading partner on a whim - why would they want to foster closer relations. Their is an old biblical saying that goes something like "Ye shall reap what ye sow". I think this is exactly what you are seeing now.

I hope it doesn't last long because I think we are all in the same leaky  old boat - I have great friends in many parts of the US and I hope they think they have a great friend in Canada. I like the country and the people - it's time for some reflection by the executive. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors against many evils, but it is always nicer when you don't have to watch for that knife coming from the rear. Keep up the introspective, thoughtful articles. -- Michael Mills

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Sir -- Read your column, and in many ways I echo your sentiments. Do you ever watch the Simpsons? They had a good skit that about summed it up....The Simpsons ended up at a private school, and their precosious daughter Lisa was looking into one of the classrooms from an outside windown. She was marveling at the computers and overall cleanliness of the school. Next to her pops up Springfield Elementary's Principal Skinner. He points out that this school's Periodic Element chart goes all the way up to #138, where as theirs only gets up to #59. Lisa then goes on to say that Springfield Elemenatry could get the same type of modern classroom aids, all they would have to do is issue a bond. As she explains the bond, Skinner throws a cinder block through the classroom's window, jumps in, and starts handing Lisa anything he can lift. She says "Principal Skinner, what you're doing is nothing more than stealing!" His reply....."Welcome to Dick Cheney's America". And he's right. -- Brendon Bookman

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So world opinion of the United States is sinking to new lows? Guess what? I think the world outside the U.S. needs an enema. They continue to plunder our "natural resources", (e.g. jobs) and take our handouts, yet they bite the hand that feeds them. Without our support and sacrifice, many "free" nations would now be either communistic, dictatorships, or Nazi ruled. They sit back and watch as terrorists commit atrocity after atrocity. They have cost our economy billions of dollars and thousands of our citizens have died due to world opinion. Spain for example, backed Hitler during World War II.

Why should they be any different now? They have no backbone and likely never will. Frankly we should back off and watch the economy of other nations crumble and their societies become utter chaos and corrupt. Tell the "World" to clean their own backyards before they accuse us of anything. They have more than enough skeletons in their own closets to be putting us down. Guess what it really is? It is fear. They fear us, and they fear each other as well. We don't need them as much as they need us. -- Timothy M. Borland

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Thank you for your excellent article. Some of the discussion taking place regarding the MSFT EU conflict supposed that recent EU actions against MSFT involved both punishment for the preeminence of the company and irritation with our government. Consumers are hardly helped by the ruling and there is virtually no European software industry to protect. Hopefully, those industries whose businesses are taking a hit will find it in their interests to support a change of leadership in Washington. -- Carol Davidek-Waller

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Gee, I didn't know you were a political commentator? Unpopular pursuit of the Iraq war? According to who? Surely not the Iraqi people. You must be talking about Sadamm ruthless hitmen? Martha scandal? I didn't know people overseas cared so much? Doesn't matter that you lie correct? Chalmers Johnson? He told an audience we should all move to Canada and buy a condo. -- E Nichols

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Hello -- what would be interesting for me to know is: 

. Did applications for visas to the USA go down?
2. Are applications for immigration into the USA going down?
3.. Are less tourists visiting the USA?
4. Is Hollywood exporting less movies to the world?
5. Are Moslems leaving the USA (besides those who are being kicked out)?

I assume (I don't have numbers here), that the answers to all questions are "NO". So, I wouldn't be to concerned about the negative attitude towards the USA at the moment. It was much more negative during the Vietnam war. The declining Dollar makes US products more competitive. Countries who have come to be accustomed to freely export to the USA, now see imports (competition) from the USA surging in their countries while they get less value for their exports to the USA (because of the declining Dollar). Higher competition is not a love affair.

Example 1: I have severe doubts that Boeing will sell less planes compared to its main competitor, the european Airbus (at the huge currency advantage Boeing has now).

Example 2: Over the last 5-7 years US cars have virtually disappeared from the Israeli market (except for military, government etc. where Israel is bound by contracts to "buy American"). I cannot buy the Chevrolet Astra (or GMC Safari) van I am driving anymore as it is no longer imported (price and fuel consumption much to high)...On the other hand, recently, Chevrolet small passenger cars are gaining market share. They are made in Korea (I think GM bought Hundai)...and in countries where America is hated GM will probably keep the Hundai brand.

With other words: Many foreign brands are american owned and the international consumer doesn't care, doesn't even know it.

Nevertheless, on the long term, the main steady friends of the USA will probably be "smaller" countries who are threatened by the big blocks like China, India, Russia, the Islamic countries and the EC (examples: Taiwan, Georgia, Israel, most African States except the Islamic ones, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Sri Lanka, Japan, Vietnam, Laos etc.). Those of the big blocks will become pro-american when they are threatened by another big block (example: more islamic terrorist attacks in Europe and India like the one in Madrid will draw the EC and India closer to the USA). I am not saying Bush and America are modern Machiavellis, but it wouldn't be the most stupid policy to act machiavellian, when a power block like China tries to take over the world by taking over its industrial base.

Some american brands are just plain unhealthy: Coca Cola and McDonalds are the best examples...but they seem to have understood this lesson and are enlarging their "diet" to healthier products. -- Emanuel B. Krauskopf

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In what world do you live? I've never read such hogwash in my life.

Clue! Spend a little more time making sure you ramblings have a point that your examples support, or better yet, vaguely relate to.

You exemplify why the American public holds journalists with the same regard that you claim the world markets hold U.S. foreign policy.

"Can" the Bush Bashing liberal bias. I hope to see better from you in the future. I think you can do it. – L. Tisdale

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If they want to boycott our products let them....all our products help employ their people. How stupid are they....yes boycott Coca Cola and thenCoke will lay off all their employees in that country. – Brian Kirk

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You article about the world not buying our products is rhetoric from the left. When you are number 1 in anything everyone wants to take you down, we need to stand strong and united on all fronts including economics. The same people who yell at the US for this are the same who want us to by their products, let’s see if they want to get into that sort of pissing match. (Which does know one any good). Quit trying to scare Americans to vote a certain way. – Dan Fasbinder

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Jon -- Your recent article "For American Brands, the World Turns Ugly" like so many others in the media tries to paint American foriegn policy as the catylist for the world to hate Americans. I am not sure how well traveled you are, have you ever lived in a foriegn country or just visited? I have been in the military for nearly 18 years and have visited and lived all over the world so let me give you some insight. Most ordinary people in the world only know America from the media which like American media bashes American policy abroad daily. Despite this fact most ordinary people around the world dont give a hoot and once they meet an American for the first time there attitude, with the exception of France, changes. What they see is a nation to include the government that is willing to help people around the world even when it has nothing to do with us or our borders.

This my friend is a good thing, because if we didnt genicide would run a muck. We as Americans will never please everyone so there is no reason to try, we should always try to do the right thing. As for your article, lets face it most so called American products sold overseas are made overseas like Ford. So the bottomline, if Europeans dont buy Fords not one job in the States will be lost. The best possible solution is to take a hint from Japan and Tariff the heck out of products so like BMW, they will open a plant in the US and employ American workers, Since in the end the only thing that matters is that Joe and Sally down the street have a job and can provide for their family. I like most Americans could care less about corparate executives filling there pockets. Furthermore, if you took a poll in America we Americans dont like many Europeans all that much either. So why bash the home team, spend your time like media overseas and point out their flaws, lord knows they have allot of them too. -- Evan

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You mean other countries hate us??? What a suprise! I can't understand why Islamic nations hate us?? First who cares? Second, their going to buy our goods for the simple reason we are the best. I do have a question though. This judgement against Microsoft by the EU. Does Microsoft have to abide by this judgement? I'm thinking about the World Court saying we have to overturn the verdicts of a few Mexicans on death row here. Of course we're not going to. Jealousy sure is ugly. -- Curt Massie

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Are you one of those liberals, who think the world's troubles are caused by the U S.? In my opinion, much of the anti-americanism expressed around the world is cause by our own liberally biased news media. When was the lase time you heard one of the major networks give even a hint of pride in America and what we are doing to combat tyrants and evil around the world. They like to use the excuse that they must be objective. That's a lot of crap. … Since I didn't finish your article, I don't know if you have expressed any of that pride yourself. – Paul Haddaway

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Excellent column. Sad but mostly true. The Warren Buffet fans I'm sure hate to see these multi-national retailers and manufacturers get picked on! -- Doug.

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Mr. Markman: Could it be that our so called "european trading partners" never had any goodwill towards us in the first place. Sure, their markets have been open to us for a very long time, but mostly out of necessity. After WWII europe was in shambles, we were the only nation left with a strong manufacturing base and we did not have to worry about rebuilding. Slowly, over the last fifty years they have been on the road to economic recovery and they could very well be on the verge of economic independence, able to establish their own markets, leaving us in the dust. For once the American dollar is experiencing strong competition from other currencies and if the europeans/asians stick together, buy only european/asian goods, the long term effects on our economy will be interesting to see. We go to their aid during WWII and now they turn on us. Talk about gratitude. I for one wish that our political leadership would close all foreign military bases, bring all those soldiers and military equipment home. Think of all the money our government could save. Once we are gone the Russians and Chinese will start flexing their muscles and we can sit back and watch the show when our "trading partners" get their collective asses kicked. If the South Koreans think we have made the peninsula more dangerous why not leave and let the North Koreans invade the south bringing their communist philosophy, famine and suffering. As for the muslim world, they never have and never will have any use for the west. What amazes me is that all these european and asian countries who are railing against us because of our middle eastern policies do not seem to have the mental capacity to understand that to a muslim they are also fair game, hence, the bombings in Spain, etc. If they think that by comdemning us they are gaining the favor of the muslim world they are in for a rude awakening. A muslim has only one allegiance, that is to his faith.

The two countries that would really scare me the most (economically speaking) would be Russia and China. At this point in time they are not an economic threat to anyone but if those governments ever ventured from beneath the ignorance of communism/socialism (which they never will) and allowed free markets to reign. Can you imagine what they could do by tapping their vast natural resources, especially the Russians. That's where my money would be. – J. Chavez

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What would have us do, old buddy--kiss up to the muslim bastards who are trying their best to accomplish world domination?

Right now, I don't care much for Russians, Frenchmen, Germans, Spaniards, Indonesians, Iraqis, Saudi Arabians, Syrians, Chinese, Palestinians and a lot of others. I imagine that many Americans feel the same way. Why don't you report on that?

You Democrats will do anything to try to make President Bush look bad. Why don't you get a life? – R. Kuyrkendall

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Jon -- If what your experts are saying is accurate, then we have only ourselves to blame. No other countrymen are as critical of their own country as Americans. We air our ‘dirty laundry’ in public for the entire world to see. We fight, argue, name-call, and disparate each other like no other entity. And, if we are to believe many of the things we read in the city newspapers and what we see on national TV each evening, I think I would lean toward self-hatred of my own country too.

Why do our media concentrate on all the negatives aspects of our culture? Why do we continue to be barraged with daily negative images of ourselves? Why do we allow this chronic behavior of self-deprecation to continue? Why do so many immigrants still want to migrate to the US and the western world? Why do some European countries have almost 20% of its population identified as Muslim? Do Muslim groups routinely condemn the violence perpetrated in their namesake or do they welcome? Do they really hate us and our products or are they just trying to use this as another method to compete? Is it easy to hate than to love or respect?

Why don’t your fellow journalists and scholars start a dialogue to debate and address the real issues and come up with real solutions instead of just bashing our society?

Of course, it’s easy to criticize, but much harder to come up with solutions. I receive frequent emails from moveon.org telling me how bad President Bush is and how he is leading us into the gates of hell with such comments as "Please stop the reckless Bush budget”; likewise on the other side about presidential candidate Kerry. If we hate ourselves (or project that image), can we expect better from the rest of the world? -- J. Lanzetta

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Today's article on Ugly Americanism was a bell-ringer. I've been feeling this way for at least two years, and it's been a lonely wait. Glad to observe I'm not alone - and also feeling a sense of vindication.

My hawkish friends seem to believe the best way to win friends and benefit world affairs is to insult and smite them. The psychopathic supposition is that admiration rises out of fear. It's a pity more Americans do not travel abroad (other than at Club Med, that is), so they could meet foreign people and learn these lessons firsthand, and early-on, instead of after years of warfare and generations of enmity. But our countrymen seem to be peculiarly myopic that way.

Am I correct in the opinion that, aside from piddling little police actions like Grenada, the Iraq Redux campaign is the first time the American military has invaded a soverign foreign nation since Teddy Roosevelt and the Spanish-American war, circa 1898 ?

Am I also correct in the opinion that you also are no friend of the conceited dimwit GWBush? Since when did arrogance become interpreted as 'leadership'? It's outrageous. Is it also correct that upon the first day of his stepping into the Oval Office, Iraq was first on the agenda?..... an intention no doubt to correct the monumental screwup of his spineless and idiotic daddy? Am I correct in the opinion that GWBush is no more than a mouthpiece for the machine politicians of power and privliege behind him? And I the only one seeing a striking similarity between Dubya and Howdy Doody?

Are you still insulted by the echoes of the senior Bush proclaiming that he could "feel our pain" during economic travails of his time - this from a man who had no need to pilot his own car for twenty years? Everyday Americans have absolutely nothing in common with that kind fo person, yet we swallowed that spin whole. -- Brian