AMERICANS: SMART OR BRAINWASHED?

A recent poll puts President Bush's approval rating at only 37%. It's a simple case of cause and effect:

Halliburton caught but not punished for gouging the military, a drug bill benefiting drug companies, a Bush crony who is governor of Mississippi getting Katrina reconstruction money while New Orleans gets stiffed.

And there is, of course, the war.

Hey, Americans aren't stupid; or are they? Another poll found that 46% of Americans have a negative view of Islam, up 11% from the period immediately after 9/11. Here it's a matter of brainwashing:

James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute, told the Post he was not surprised by the poll's results. Politicians, authors and media commentators have demonised the Arab world since 2001, he said.

The Arab world needs no assistance demonising itself.