Opinions of the War and the War of Opinions

Paris, France - While the U.S. may have won the war on the ground in Iraq, they seemed to have lost the important battle for the hearts and minds of the citizens of the world's wealthiest nations, greatest military powers, and most formidable political players, write global public opinion specialists Darrell Bricker and Pierre Giacometti in their essay, "Opinions of the War, And the War of Opinions." In fact, Americans are standing alone in terms of public opinion on a number of fronts when compared to Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and Spain, according to Bricker, President of Ipsos Public Affairs in North America, and Giacometti, one of Europe's leading public opinion and research analysts and CEO of Ipsos France. Instead of rallying to the victors, the public of these "Power Nine" nations has become fearful of what the awesome power of the U.S. now represents in world affairs. The essay, based on results of surveys fielded in nine countries, with 9,000 people over 9 days earlier this year, appear in new issue of Ipsos Ideas, the global newsletter published by the Ipsos Group, the world's second largest survey-based marketing research company. "With growing economic globalization, and the existence of the U.S. as the world's only `hyper-power,' there will be increasing pressure by the citizens of the world to get their political institutions in line with the new economic and military realities," say Bricker and Giacometti. And public opinion on American soil? In his article "Communicating in Wartime," veteran U.S. pollster Thomas Riehle looks at the prospects of President George W. Bush's reelection. "The odds favor his reelection," writes Riehle, leader of Ipsos's U.S. Public Affairs division, "but he still needs to convince the swing group, who remain skeptical about his handling of the economy, that he knows what he is doing and he is telling them the truth about what to expect from his economic plan of tax cuts." Jean-Marc Lech, Co-Chairman of Ipsos, wades into the debate on public opinion and its place in a democracy. "The well-established popularity of George W. Bush could anaesthetize any form of credible political opposition to the American presidency. Above all, it could authorize Bush to relaunch one of the United States' oldest dreams: its Manifest Destiny," says Lech in his article "Opinion Never Lies." Ipsos Ideas is published five times a year in English, French, and Spanish. Current and past issues are available at www.ipsos.com/ideas, or by electronic subscription. For more information on this news release, please contact: Dan Maceluch VP, Corporate Communications & Marketing Ipsos North America (604) 257-3200 About Ipsos The Ipsos group is the second largest survey-based marketing research company in the world, and has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999. Ipsos companies offer a full suite of research services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies in advertising, marketing, media, public opinion and customer loyalty research. Member companies, employing more than 3800 staff in 35 countries, also offer in each of their specializations a full range of off-line and online research products as well as custom, syndicated, omnibus and panel services. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.com `Nobody's unpredictable' is the new Ipsos signature. Our clients' clients are increasingly demanding. They change direction, change their views and preferences often and easily. We at Ipsos participate and meet those changes. We help our clients to understand their clients, to bring focus and clarity to even the most difficult situations. We understand the dynamics of their markets and we deliver the insight needed to give them the leading edge. Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris Premier Marchй, and is part of the SBF 120 and Next Prime Indices as well as eligible to the Deferred Settlement System (SRD). Euroclear code 7329, Reuters ISOS.LN, Bloomberg IPS FP