Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder

Highlights from the 2007 Aspen Ideas Festival

July 4, 2007

Highlights from the 2007 Aspen Ideas Festival

(Aspen, Colorado) – The Aspen Institute and the Atlantic release the following highlights from Day Three of the 2007 Aspen Ideas Festival.  For inquiries, please contact Amy Thompson at 202-285-2997 or [email protected].

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EXCLUSIVE
Political researcher Doug Schoen today released new poll results that show 80 percent of the American public say U.S. relations with the world have worsened in the last five years, and 63 percent believe those relations continue to get worse.  Voters of all parties agree that Iraq presents the major foreign policy challenge, most being pessimistic about the war in Iraq and thinking the United States will fail.  That being said, Schoen told festival goers that the American people tend to believe the threat of terrorism “is very real.”

Specific poll results include:

  • 82 percent say people in other countries view the United States unfavorably
  • 71 percent say people in other countries now view the American people unfavorably
  • 53 percent of American believe the largest threat facing the United State is from terrorist organizations
  • 83 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should share a leadership role with allies and other countries around the world.
  • Most Americans say the U.S.’s role is equally important today as it was 10 years ago.
  • 63 percent of voters think the U.S. should focus on domestic problems instead of foreign affairs.
  • 64 percent of Americans support preemptive war and military action to prevent terrorism, before an attack is launched.
  • 67 percent say use of force is justified to prevent nuclear war and 59 percent support it to prevent mass killing and genocide.
  • 52 percent say use of force to protect oil fields around the world is justified, while 33 percent say that it is “sometimes” justified.
  • Americans are evenly divided on whether there should be diplomatic relations with countries that support terrorism, like Syria and Iran (50 percent say yes; 50 percent say no.)
  • 56 percent of Americans believe that the war in Iraq is distracting us from the war on terror.
  • 67 percent believe the war in Iraq is creating more terrorists.
  • 46 percent say the Bush Administration has not done enough to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
  • 72 percent favor diplomacy to pressure with Iran, but if diplomacy does not work to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, 57 percent favor military action.

See the full poll results.

TODAY’S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit http://www.aifestival.org/index2.php?menu=3&sub=4 to watch the following clips:

  • Futurist Joel Kotkin defends suburbia and sprawl in his presentation on the new city and urbanism in the 21st century.
  • CBS’s Bob Schieffer interviews Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson.
  • Schieffer interviews cyclists and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

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ATLANTIC@ASPEN BLOG – TODAY’S DISCUSSIONS

What does the Atlantic’s Ross Douthat think about Richard Branson’s hope to offer private space flights in the next 18 months? … Virginia Postrel explains her desire for more social scientists … James Fallows shares what it’s like to live in China… and more.   Join the discussion at http://aspenidease.theatlantic.com.

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TOMORROW’S PREVIEW:

  • The Chinese Economy:  Can We Keep the Heat Alive? With author He Fan,  Minxin Pei, and the World Bank’s David Dollar.
  • Lee Hamilton, Gen. Jack Keane and Sen. Dianne Feinstein discuss Iraq.
  • Jim Lehrer interviews Gen. Colin Powell
  • Thomas Friedman explains why green is the new red, white and blue.
  • Global Infrastructure Fatigue: A Time to Reinvent or Just Rebuild? With Assistant Energy Secretary Alexander Karsner, Providence, RI, Mayor David Cicilline, Berkeley Professor Orville Schell.
  • Stanford Professor David Kennedy answers the question: Does the United States have a mercenary army?
  • The Land Institute’s Wes Jackson talks climate, energy, and the future of food in an overpopulated world.
  • Harnessing Spiritual Power for Social Justice, with The Rev. Jim Wallis and TIME magazine editor-at-large Nancy Gibbs.
  • Compassionate Leadership, with Rabbi Irwin Kula, Queen Noor of Jordan, and The Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
  • Reflections on the U.S. from Abroad, with Princess Mabel van Orjane-Nasau, Nexus Institute CEO Rob Riemen, former UN Undersecretary of Communications Sashi Tharoor, and E.U. Ambassador to the U.S. John Bruton.

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