The view that there is an inevitable clash of nations between the West and Islam is not viewed by the majority to be a certain thing.
Neocon's in the US looking for a fight with pre-nuclear Iran and Osama bin Laden who views the west as being anti-Muslim, are it would appear, in the minority according to the BBC poll.
According to the BBC Survey which took opinions from around the world, the majority do not believe that conflict is inevitable and that current tensions are the result of intolerant minorities and political self-interest.
Globescan conducted the poll which canvassed 28,000 citizens from 27 countries with 2/3rds believing common ground could be found between the West and Islam.
Interestingly, over half the respondents believed that political power and interests are at the heart of the perceived conflict while less than a third felt it was cultural or religious differences.
Given US Secretary of State Rice's presence in the Middle East, and a general belief that the Iraqi leadership have been advised to "get a grip", perhaps there is a realization in the Whitehouse and US Department of State that leadership does not neccessarily mean militarily kicking three barrels out of a small country.
War is after all diplomacy by an alternative means - perhaps we should be trying true diplomacy more often?
