Between alleged interference in U.S. elections by Russia, recent nuclear posturing by North Korea, and chemical weapon atrocities in Syria – it’s hard to keep track of which country is supposed to be the bona fide number one “enemy” of the United States.
While we can’t tell you exactly what people are thinking in this moment, we do have access to about 15 years worth of polls on the subject. The data ends up painting an interesting backdrop for America’s foreign policy decisions over the same timeframe, as well as the narratives being pushed by major media outlets.
Congrats, Dear Leader
Today’s first map visualizes the most recent data from a YouGov survey between January 28 and February 1, 2017, which was taken just before the most recent string of geopolitical turmoil.
During the survey window, more Americans viewed North Korea as an enemy than any other country, with the Hermit Kingdom being ranked as an “enemy” by 57% of respondents. Of course, new tensions have surfaced since then, as North Korea continues to defy U.S. pressure with further missile tests under Kim Jong-Un. This probably hasn’t helped their case with American citizens.
As you might imagine, aside from North Korea, most of the countries that skew towards the top of the “enemy” spectrum are located in the Middle East and North Africa. Here’s a close-up of that region, with the numbers that specific countries poll at there:
Looking just at this geographic area, Iran stands out the most with 41% of Americans considering it to be an “enemy”. That places it right behind North Korea on the enemy list, at least as far as this most recent poll is concerned.
Following Iran in the rankings were Syria (32%), Iraq (29%), and Afghanistan (23%).
Changing Enemies Over Time
One thing is for sure: America’s biggest foe isn’t a constant. The identity of America’s arch-nemesis ebbs and flows as global events unfold, and the opinions of citizens are swayed.
The following animation shows the answer to a slightly different poll question, this time by Gallup, which was asked multiple years between 2001 and 2016. Specifically, Americans were asked (unprompted) to name the country that is their “greatest enemy”.
See how the rankings fluctuate over time, including Iraq’s precipitous drop after Saddam was ousted and the country turned out to not have WMDs:
Particularly, Iran had a good run between 2006-2012, when it was the top-ranked “enemy” in each year a poll was done.
At other times, North Korea (2005, 2016), Iraq (2001, 2005), Russia (2015), and China (2014) have all topped the list as well.
And America’s biggest enemy is …
America!!!
It’s a trick question, Red. America’s biggest enemy is the US government.
Saved me having to type it too. Thanks.
The biggest enemy of the U.S. is Saudi Arabia, closely followed by Israel. Russia wants to be our ally if we would let them. And what happens in Syria is none of our f-king business.
We need to shut down all this mil/ind bullshit because they’ll just “make up” WMD’s and intel to keep the tax dollars flowing. And that’s the truth!
If it’s not israel, my vote would be Mexico. 50 consulates, weaponizing their population, and if anyone influence the most recent election, it was Carlos Slim via his newspaper.
America’s biggest enemy is the US Federal Government. Or more specifically the traitorous politicians and bureaucrats in it, and those who bribe them.
Big media. Followed by the mericans who drink their kool aid.
I’ll go with Israel and the US Gov’t; without them, we wouldn’t have been involved in MENA at all.
The District of Columbia, of course.
With a little help from the City of London.
And their secretive buddies in Vatican City.
Saudi-israel or israel arabia take ur pik.
Yup
Israel, Somalia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. I mention Somalia because St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN used to be a nice place until some liberal cucks in the Lutheran church said Minnesota needs to be vibrantly enriched with diversity.
I couldn’t care less what country America’s biggest enemy is, to be truthful about it. There are so many countries that hate America, and so many enemies of America, most of them with very good reason, that it just becomes too exhausting and futile to think about. It’s just another excuse to get the people all lathered up and in a warlike state. The hegemony America holds over the rest of the world, whether it be economical, or militarily, is staggering. The hegemony America holds over Americans is just as staggering. (More about that in the next paragraph). America is an Empire. Empires aren’t thought of fondly. Ask Rome. Or 19th century Great Britian.
The enemy Americans (As opposed to America) should be worried about is right here in America. (Norman, General and a few others have recognized this in their posts above). From the deep state to the police state. Also: the Banksters, the government bureaucrats, the media, and Politicians at the local, state and federal levels. For goodness sakes, all one has to do is go to the airport and deal with the TSA, to get a glimpse of who the enemy is. How about Watertown, Mass. after the Boston Marathon bombing? Those are the rulers who lord over us. That’s where the tyranny originates. Those are the real enemies of we, the people. Talking or worrying about other countries hating America and who our biggest enemy may be is just a distraction from the real problem. The real and ever present enemy right here in our own backyard!
The fed.
“Which Country is America’s Biggest Enemy?”
That would be…………
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The PHYSICAL land that constitutes the US is no enemy to anyone. It is the parasitical government that occupies an infests that land that is the greatest danger to the human race.
I have seen the enemy and he is us : POGO
We as Americans failed to heed and act on the warnings of great Americans Jefferson , Franklin , Eisinhauer , Kennedy and listen to Ron Paul’s fare well speach in 2012 and it sums up what has happened to our nation .
As we gallavant around the globe sticking our hands in every possible global orfice we can find . Meanwhile failing to truly protect and defend the ideals and the consciousness that was America . Our homeland that our ancestrial fathers conquered and founded was and still is mankinds last best hope . Yet we find our schools teaching the youth to be shameful of our existance . We are an imperfect people working towards an ideal construct of a nation . Our past is our past and lessons learned from it should be used to create a positive path to our nations future existance . It is true we have sold our selves a bill of phony goods and it’s time to take our lumps and move on !
Winston Churchill said : “The Americans will always do the right thing , after they have exhausted all other alternatives!”
It’s time for us to Make America Great Again only then can we save any other part of this world . By setting and example of what can and should be achieved by a free people of conscience tempered by intellect and desire to do great things . Remember JFK ‘s warnings about secrecy among our free society and his call to action . We do not do things that are easy we as Americans achieve great things because they are hard .
Our waist of blood and treasure must cease and we must recall all our military around the world and assign them the task of rebuilding themselves as we embark on rebuilding a nation . As for the debt , it’s time to pay ourselves first . What has been done to us since 1913 is nothing less than economic treason , all the fortunes pirated from the nation must be held to account for the damage incurred . You don’t get invited to a party , bankrupt and burn out the host and profit from it . We need a long line of orange jumpsuits that will stretch from Wall Street to K-Street to Capitol Street and ending in Levenworth Kansas .