#RSS Feed for USA articles - Telegraph.co.uk < img alt="dcsimg" id="dcsimg" width="1" height="1" src="//webtrends.telegraph.co.uk/dcsshgbi400000gscd62rrg43_4o2o/njs.gi f?MLC=&Channel=&Genre=&Category=&Content_Type=&Level=&source=&dcsuri=/ nojavascript&WT.js=No&WT.tv=10.2.10&dcssip=www.telegraph.co.uk"/> [p?c1=2&c2=6035736&cv=2.0&cj=1] Accessibility links * Skip to article * Skip to navigation [telegraph_print_190.gif] Advertisement Telegraph.co.uk ___________________ Submit Monday 21 January 2013 * Home * News * World * Sport * Finance * Comment * Blogs * Culture * Travel * Life * Fashion * Tech * Dating * Offers * Jobs * USA * Asia * China * Europe * Middle East * Australasia * Africa * South America * Central Asia 1. Home>> 2. News>> 3. World News>> 4. North America>> 5. USA British anti-Americanism 'based on misconceptions' British attitudes towards the United States are governed by ignorance of the facts on key issues such as crime, health care and foreign policy, according to a new survey. Donald Rumsfeld shakes hand with Saddam Hussein in 1983 Donald Rumsfeld and Saddam Hussein in 1983. Most of those surveyed believe the US sold over a quarter of Saddam's arsenal to him By Alex Spillius in Washington 7:25PM BST 17 Aug 2008 A poll of nearly 2,000 Britons by YouGov/PHI found that 70 per cent of respondents incorrectly said it was true that the US had done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000. More than 50 per cent presumed that polygamy was legal in the US, when it is illegal in all 50 states. The poll was commissioned by America In The World , an independent pressure group that launches on Monday and aims to improve understanding and appreciation of the US in Britain and around the world. Tim Montgomerie, its director, said factual inaccuracies and mistaken assumptions have contributed to Britons and Europeans taking a hostile stance towards their most powerful ally, which often acted against national interests. "We wanted to find out how British people understood America and found that there was an unbalanced view. Maybe there are good reasons but if we cleared a lot of that factual ignorance we would have a better understanding of what America really is," said Mr Montgomerie, who also founded the influential ConservativeHome website three years ago. The survey showed that a majority agreed with the false statement that since the Second World War the US had more often sided with non-Muslims when they had come into conflict with Muslims. In fact in 11 out of 12 major conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims, Muslims and secular forces, or Arabs and non-Arabs, the US has sided with the former group. Those conflicts included Turkey and Greece, Bosnia and Yugoslavia, and and Kosovo and Yugoslavia. Related Articles * New Yorkers lift school bus to save pregnant woman's child 16 Aug 2008 * Texas school allows guns in class 17 Aug 2008 Asked if it was true that "from 1973 to 1990 the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons," 80 per cent of British respondents said yes. However the US sold just 0.46 per cent of Saddam's arsenal to him, compared to Russia's 57 per cent, France's 13 per cent and China's 12 per cent. "Ideas get around. Perhaps it's that old picture of Donald Rumsfeld with Saddam," suggested Mr Montgomerie, whose website includes a petition against anti-Americanism. "Hollywood and all its violence has something to do with it, and the awful Bush diplomacy," he added. Almost a third of Britons believe that "Americans who have not paid their hospitals fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care"; by law such treatment must be provided. More than half the respondents believed that polygamy is legal in some US states, while it is illegal in all US states. Most Britons were unaware of positive aspects of the US, such as the robust environmental movement or the social justice work of evangelical churches, he said. Apart from US-bashing being a favourite topic around European dinner tables, it has serious affects on national policy. The controversial missile defence shield in eastern Europe might have happened sooner with a more favourable climate, while public opinion helped Turkey's leaders deny the Americans an invasion route into Iraq from its territory, aiding the northward flight of elements of the Saddam regime. USA * News >> * UK News >> Related Partners * Save money on overseas transfers In USA U.S. President Barack Obama is sworn in during the public ceremony as First lady Michelle Obama looks on during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. Inauguration in pictures Barack Obama's first term: the US President's first four years in pictures Obama's first term in pictures The 2014 Corvette Stingray Detroit Motor Show 2013 Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln Golden Globe wins for political films send Oscars predictions into a spin Coca-Cola to tackle obesity Coca-Cola to tackle obesity Advertisement Advertisement More from The Telegraph IFRAME: http://s.telegraph.co.uk/international/indeed/indeedne.html Advertisement More from The Telegraph Loading News Most Viewed * TODAY * PAST WEEK * PAST MONTH 1. Barack Obama inauguration: President aims to hit benchmark set by Abraham Lincoln 2. Barack Obama inauguration 2013: live 3. Parents 'tried to exorcise daughter, 10' 4. Michael Winner 5. Delhi gang rape suspects 'did not mean to murder' 1. Helicopter crashes in Vauxhall, central London 2. Helicopter crash in Vauxhall - as it happened, January 16, 2013 3. Tesco beef burgers found to contain 29pc horse meat 4. David Cameron praises C17 plane just moments before it breaks down 5. South African woman gored by rhino after posing for photo 1. 'Tsunami bomb' tested off New Zealand coast 2. Death of Hugo Chavez could set off shock waves across region 3. Justin Bieber fans urged to cut themselves to stop him from smoking weed. This Belieber madness must cease 4. Unseen photo of teenage Princess Diana goes on sale 5. Defence chiefs prepare new plans to defend Falkland Islands Advertisement MBA Courses Loading MORE FROM TELEGRAPH.CO.UK Executive Jobs Powerful 'Queen bee' women block others getting promotion Get the latest Executive jobs delivered straight to your inbox View Apply For Jobs Apply now: Procurement Manager at The Lawn Tennis Association View Telegraph Courses project management course Free online Prince2 and Agile project management training View Accountancy Calculator and fountain pen Gain a globally recognised accounting qualification - 100% online View Back to top * HOME * News * UK News * Politics * Long Reads * Wikileaks * Jobs * World News * Europe * USA * China * Royal Family News * Celebrity news * Dating * Finance * Education * Defence * Health * Weird News * Editor's Choice * Financial Services * Pictures * Video * Matt * Alex * Comment * Blogs * Crossword * Contact Us * Privacy and Cookies * Advertising * Fantasy Football * Tickets * Announcements * Reader Prints * * Follow Us * Apps * Epaper * Expat * Promotions * Subscriber * Syndication (c) Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2013 Terms and Conditions Today's News Archive Style Book Weather Forecast