Poll suggests US world view shift

By Jonathan Beale
BBC State Department correspondent in Washington

The poll showed little backing for Mr Bush's goal of spreading democracy

An increasing proportion of Americans believe the US "should mind its own business" internationally, a poll on America's place in the world shows.

The survey by the Pew Research Centre (PRC) found 42% of respondents said the US should "let other countries get along the best they can on their own".

It pointed to the Iraq war as a reason for a revived isolationist sentiment.

The results are on a par with the proportion who expressed that view following the Vietnam war in the 1970s.

The survey was carried out by the PRC for the Council on Foreign Relations and questioned the American public and opinion leaders.

While it found that a majority of the public still believed that the US would achieve success in Iraq, most opinion formers in government, religion and academia held a more pessimistic view.

Opinion was divided as to whether Iraq was helping or harming America's war on terror.

The survey also showed little enthusiasm for President George W Bush's goal of spreading democracy and freedom.

There was also a noticeable shift in the importance America placed on ties with Europe.

India and China were frequently named as countries that were likely to emerge as important US partners.

The poll also indicated that American support for the UN continued to slide.