Mutually Assured Distrust

The news on Muslim-Western relations is in, and it ain't pretty: A new report by the Pew Global Attitudes Project suggests a deep rift in Muslim-Western relations and provides some powerful insight into just what Muslims and Westerners think of each other.

Among the findings: Solid majorities in both predominantly Muslim countries and Western countries believe that relations between the two groups are poor. 

Large majorities of Westerners do not consider Muslims "respectful of women."  What do Muslims say about the West? Exactly the same thing. Among the traits Muslims commonly ascribe to Westerners: selfishness, immorality, and greed, as well as violence and fanaticism. And the traits Westerners commonly ascribed to Muslims? Fanaticism, violence, and intolerance. Can we add mutual finger-pointing?   

Some of the results, though, are less dispiriting. Strong majorities in France, Britain, and the United States say they have a favorable opinion of Muslims.  And in Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, the percentages saying suicide bombings can often or sometimes be justified to defend Islam against its enemies have fallen substantially. In Jordan, which suffered a devastating attack last year, the number fell from 57% to 29%.

The most startling finding? Majorities in Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan say they do not believe Arabs carried out the 9/11 attacks.