WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (AFP) - Two out of three Americans believe the United States is less respected than in the past and nearly half say the country's foreign policy should take into account its allies' interests, according to a poll released Wednesday.
The Pew Research Center poll showed that 37 percent of Americans believe US foreign policy should be based on US interests.
Despite their skepticism over the war in Iraq, 60 percent of Americans back the use of pre-emptive war against nations deemed a threat to the United States, the poll showed. In May 2003 -- two months after the start of the Iraq war -- 67 percent supported such a policy.
The survey revealed that 59 percent of Americans believe President George W. Bush is too quick to use military force.
On the Middle East, fewer Americans -- 35 percent -- view US policy as fair. In May 2003, 47 percent said the United States was being fair in its policies.
Forty percent of Americans sympathize with Israel, while only 13 percent do so with the Palestinians.
For the first time since the Vietnam war, a majority of Americans (41 percent) consider war and foreign affairs as the United States' top issues over the economy, which was viewed as more important by 26 percent of people surveyed.
The poll was conducted July 8-18 among 2,009 Americans.