James

For many Americans, the global dominance of the nation's economy, military and culture are sources of patriotic pride. But for many around the world, those very achievements inspire hatred.

The Middle East may be the region where anti-American feelings were most evident following Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, with some celebrations seen in the streets. Many Arabs feel the United States has too often sided with Israel at their expense.

But anti-American sentiment also was observed this week in places as disparate as Russia, Mexico and China, often with similar themes: the United States is too arrogant and meddling, using its wealth and military might to run roughshod over other nations while ignoring the traditions and history of other cultures.

Though U.S. icons such as Marlboro cigarettes, McDonalds and Hollywood movies permeate cultures around the globe, the fascination with America is a love-hate relationship.

The only superpower available right now, the U.S. was "a natural target'

"It's natural that the United States earns the ill will of other nations. They have committed a lot of outrages," 78-year-old Jose Schroeder told Mexico City's Reforma newspaper in a man-on-the-street interview.

Some in Moscow also lacked sympathy. "The Americans got what they deserve," said a woman aboard a packed electric trolley that filled up with discussion of the attacks. Several other riders agreed.

"The U.S. is to blame for this because they were never concerned about the anger they raised in other countries," said Ana Paula Brail, 28, a set design student in the drama school in Rio de Janeiro. "They are responsible for deaths across the world and caused unwarranted pain in other countries with its economic policies. The terrorists chose the World Trade Center for the attack because it is the symbol of globalization and U.S. imperialism.

Meanwhile, in China, in Internet chat rooms monitored by the government and stripped of comments authorities considered inappropriate, anti-American sentiment was allowed to stand. "When the Americans attacked Iraq, Yugoslavia and the Chinese Embassy, don't you think they were also terrorists at that time?" asked on Internet user.

"America deserves it," said another. "They did so many terrible things in the past. It's good treatment for American hegemony."

Such disdain is hard for many Americans to fathom. After all, a common American self-perception is that the United States has been a force for good in global affairs, coming to the rescue in two world wars and checkmating Soviet communism. Most recently, it led the fight to defend Bosnian Muslims in Kosova.

To Sergio Sarmiento, a political commentator in Mexico, the United States' unique stature in the modern world largely explained the attacks. "It is also the only superpower available right now, so it's a natural target. If you want to hit something big, it's the only big thing you have left," he said.

But its more of a mixed relationship, said Adeed Dawisha, a professor of political science at Miami University of Ohio who was born in Iraq and has lived in the United States for 15 years.

"The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia has troubled some moderate Muslims while inflaming extremist Muslims. Osama bin Laden, the wealthy Saudi whom the federal officials suspect as the mastermind behind Tuesday's terrorist events, has in the past cited the large deployment of U.S. troops in his homeland since the Persian Gulf War as a motive for his anti-U.S. actions.

The United States is also seen as a pernicious influence on the morals and culture of Arab Muslims. "It's not just young people but elders who are very upset," said David Mack., vice president at the Middle East Institute in Washington. "They see that this American way of life is terribly attractive to their children," he said.

Add to that the perception in Arab communities in the Middle East that Washington supports repressive Arab regimes that often use force to stifle dissent.

In addition, Arab critics say the Americans supply Israel with weapons and disregard the plight of Arabs such as the Iraqi people, who still suffer in part due to U.S.-led sanctions, and the Palestinians.

"But they elected Bush to support Israel. The Americans see but they claim that they don't see. They come here to Bethlehem for Christmas but they don't want to see what is going on. All the Israelis' assassinations were with (U.S.-made) weapons like F-16s. Yesterday Jenin (a West Bank city) was bombarded by Apaches (U.S.-made helicopters). The bullets, the tear gas - it's all American.

"This has built up an image among radical elements in the Arab world that the U.S. is almost an evil empire," said professor Paul Rogers, a terrorism expert at Bradford University in England. "There is an undercurrent of deep suspicion of the U.S. It is analogous to the position of the British during the days of empire. The British saw themselves as a civilizing force, but unfortunately the people who were colonized did not agree."