The ongoing violence in the Middle East, which the Bush administration has tacitly endorsed, has sapped support for the United States in Lebanon, according to a new survey.

The latest poll by the Beirut Center found that 8 percent of Lebanese feel the US supports Lebanon, down from 38 percent in January. [...]

“Look what America gives us, bombs and missiles,” says [Ghassan Farran, a doctor and head of a local cultural organization]. “I was never a political person and never with Hizbullah but now after this I am with Hizbullah.”

Analysts have noted that as the crisis grows, it “strengthens anti-Americanism worldwide and fuels radicalism in the Arab and Muslim world.” Assessing Arab media coverage, one found that in “the last few days, the main trend has been unmistakable: an increasing focus on the United States as the villain” of the conflict.

Pollsters have documented serious positive trends in Lebanese public opinion over the last several years. Favorable opinion of the United States jumped from 27% to 42% from 2003 to 2005. The number of Lebanese who believed terrorism could sometimes be justified dropped from 73 percent to 39 percent from 2002 to 2005, while the number who believed democracy could work in Lebanon went from 75 percent to 83 percent.

Condoleezza Rice today pledged to return to the region but won’t say when. By the time she gets around to it, the damage to America’s reputation may be entrenched.

In his meeting with President Bush today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to advocate for a U.N. ceasefire resolution:

Tony Blair will press George Bush today to support “as a matter of urgency” a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of a UN security council resolution next week, according to Downing Street sources.

Britain’s former ambassador to the U.S. has already “dismissed Tony Blair’s ability to sway George Bush” on the issue. He’s right. Despite having been a steadfast supporter of Bush’s endeavors in Iraq, Blair has received very little in return.

Here are some of examples of Blair’s sound advice that Bush has rejected or ignored –

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Blair, who is hosting the G-8 summit, wants a strong international agreement that man-made pollutants are contributing to the problem and that mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are the prudent solution…but [U.S. officials] stopped short of embracing Blair’s solution. [Washington Post, 7/7/05]

POVERTY

Seeking billions in debt relief for Africa, newly re-elected British Prime Minister Tony Blair had to settle yesterday for extravagantly wrapped morsels of food aid and vague promises of more to come from U.S. President George W. Bush. [Toronto Globe and Mail, 6/8/05]

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

[Blair] persuaded Bush to revive the Middle East peace process between Israel and Palestine that Bush had abandoned. The new “road map” for peace there was the principal concession that Blair wrested from Bush [for support on Iraq]. … But within the councils of the Bush administration that initiative was systematically undermined. [Salon, 11/14/03]