Quotes of the Day

What does George W. Bush's re-election to the U.S. presidency mean to Asia? Turns out that people here are nearly as divided as American voters. According to a Time/CNN poll conducted by TNS in four Asian countries, 33.6% believe Bush's victory bodes well for their respective homelands while 32.4% feel the opposite. Twenty-five percent think his victory will have no effect.

On a country-by-county basis, however, differences are more pronounced. Indians are optimistic, with the largest segment, 45%, saying Bush's re-election is good for their country. Meanwhile, South Koreans, Indonesians and Japanese are not: 48%, 45% and 39%, respectively, think another Bush Administration will be bad news. When it comes to Iraq, Asians seem universally pessimistic. By as much as 2 to 1, respondents fear Bush will fail to stabilize the strife-torn country. In Japan, one of America's most important allies in the war, only 2.3% are confident that Bush can successfully win the peace.

• Chaim Estulin
• Four More Years: the Asian Perspective