Support for NATO Wanes.

The International Herald Tribune published this opinion poll of NATO today:

What is surprising is the low numbers in Germany, Italy, and Poland which used to be the staunchest supporters of the the U.S.-led military alliance. In fact, support for NATO is now higher in France (59%) than in the rest of Europe on average (55%).

An expert on Poland explains the following:

"Poles believe that NATO is losing its focus," said Kai-Olaf Lang, an expert on Poland at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. "NATO is no longer seen as providing a security umbrella, which it used to do during the Cold War." (IHT)

It seems pretty clear these results have to do with America's poor image in those countries (NATO is obviously identified with the U.S.). - yet anoter sign of the mistrust - if not the distrust - of the world towards the U.S. since the war in Iraq.