hisham? >> quickly on thal -- the alawites, this will take forever -- [laughter] we have, unfortunately, civil war, we're going to see more and more communal clashes in syria, and unless the syrian situation is contained somehow by foreign intervention, we will see a situation similar to lebanon in '75, '76. and the alawites in the end will suffer. i would hasten to say that not necessarily all of them are with the regime. there are more nuanced politics in syria than people are led to believe. and i think from the american side we should always -- as the americans have been doing, actually -- that we will not help you unless you represent all stripes, you know, of syrian society, all that syrian -- human mosaic, let's say. and i think this is the message that the united states should continue to repeat when they are dealing with the opposition. not only where the alawites are concerned, the christians are concerned, and these are legitimate concerns. when we were there with 150,000 soldiers,

let me turn to hisham, and bill talked about the polarization of american public opinion on for some -- on foreign policy. not surprising where foreign policy has begun to play a significant role in both the campaigns, but what we see in the arab world is with the emergence of more democratic politics, polarization as well. around a number of issues that relate to the relationship, interaction between these arab states in transition and united states and the west more broadly. the poor results that americans seem to understand this is about islamists struggle power it could be explained by media reporting, but also a creeping sense that the future of the arab world looks like an argument among islamists. indeed, i think that many commentators, yourself included, in the wake of the attacks on embassies, have made the point that this was to some extent an argument among islamists. the arab states in transition to not have a clear model they are driving toward. it is not clear what they want to be. can you talk a little bit about what those dividing lines are in the arab world and how t

and i think you ended in a great place, hisham, coz these arguments are not about culture, religion, they are about politics and power. americans seem to recognize that. i would say that although americans like to be liked, based in to admit on this set of issues a degree of pragmatism. i've wanted to ask you, shibley, as one of the authors of the poll, do you think that is an accurate lesson to draw from the data we see, how do you expect the next american president will be able to build on that, if so? we had an election in venezuela yesterday, and i woke up this morning thinking about latin america where the united states is not very popular and has not been for a long time, for many of the same reasons that hisham note. yet the united states carries on its relationship with countries in latin america. knowing there are pragmatic reasons to change in the war, what policies will the next president be able to put forward and get public support for? >> that is a great question, and i want to say one footnote to something bill said about methodology, people who feel this survey -- it

hisham melhem. said that the muslim brotherhood is probusiness and socially conservative if i recall correctly. what where does it exactly place the next administration here in the u.s. and american perception as to how they actually perceive the muslim brotherhood or the freedom and justice party and specifically as far as being a unique element -- such in the family or islamist as you put it and as your emphasis it is politics and economic not necessarily religion and culture. thank you. >> maybe the republican vote piers. you can hand the microphone right in the -- thank you. my question for doctor, i'm wondering how much being informed -- have you been able to look at responses the difference between sophisticated an novemberist when you provide more information, for instance, instead of talking about egypt's role and stability on a question like that, you said, you know, jipt a-- egypt allowing u.s. warships to go over the suez canal when you ask questions that way, does it end up affecting res

>> pelley: hisham melhem, you see it that way to? >> the syrians said they are investigating the accident but obviously we don't know if t exact circumstances. logically one would say assad can't provoke the turks because the turkish army is strong and they can take out the syrian army which is already exhausted. at the same time there are those who would argue that it's in the interest of syria to force the turks to play their hand and even the threat of a regional conflagration could force the international powers, the russians, the iranians, others to push the turks not to help the syrian opposition as we talk now we can talk about a regional conflict albeit on a limited basis. we know iranians are sending technicians, trainers -- >> warner: you say it's already starting. >> of course, and we know for a fact that that hezbollah in lebanon is sending also trainers and people to help the syrian army and then, of course, we have the latest worrisome development which is the influx of so-called jihadists, volunteers coming to fight th