Most Mentioned Enemies of the USA

+10

Level 35

Dec 19, 2015

People were asked which countries and answered ISIS and Middle East....

+23

Level 45

Dec 20, 2015

ISIS at least makes sense because it is functioning as a sort of pseudo-state right now, and it certainly has positioned itself as an enemy of the US. The Middle East answer though... that's just ignorance.

+7

Level 67

May 1, 2018

I tried ISIS for exactly this reason. It holds itself out as an independent state (and it is intent on the destruction of non-Muslims) so I think it's a reasonable response.

+1

Level 51

Feb 4, 2022

I think (and hope) that they were talking about in general.

+3

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

what do you think the S in ISIS stands for?

+6

Level 61

Jan 11, 2021

Well one of them stands for Syria

+3

Level 47

Apr 2, 2022

No it doesn't

The official standing for ISIS according to Google is

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

+1

Level 51

Apr 26, 2022

I think one of them stands for Syria(n).

+1

Level 50

Jun 13, 2022

I think the S in ISIS means Somebody/Someone

+3

Level 73

Sep 19, 2022

I believe that spells ISIL

+1

Level 28

Oct 2, 2022

its:

Islamic State of Iran and Syria

+2

Level 47

Nov 15, 2022

@AlmostAGenius

It does spell ISIL because in English that is the name, in Arabic it would be ISIS

+3

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

What's funny is more Americans know that ISIS exists, yet don't even know what it stands for.

+2

Level 51

Dec 19, 2015

Nato should be on top

+4

Level 51

Feb 22, 2022

..?

+1

Level 47

Apr 2, 2022

What...?

+15

Level 64

Dec 19, 2015

Surely USA itself. Vast majority of mass shootings only happen in the USA, much more of a threat than islamic terrorism

+8

Level 52

Apr 29, 2020

I know, but since 9/11, the media has been only showing significant school shootings if the perpetrators are either young or Muslim. I had to search YouTube to look at the news about the New Zealand mosque shooting because our media is racist.

+15

Level 62

Nov 24, 2020

Oh please, if there is a mass shooting in the US it is widely publicized no matter who it is. The shooting in LV, just this week the Wisconsin mall shootings was broadcast all over. You usually get tv stations to break into programming to report it many times as well no matter who is the shooter. Most are white men.

+1

Level 67

Dec 19, 2015

Missed Venezuela. Very interesting quiz.

+1

Level 37

Dec 19, 2015

Really interesting and original quiz!

+17

Level 84

Dec 19, 2015

Japan? Were they polling 90 year olds?

+10

Level 86

Dec 19, 2015

Gallup may claim their methodology is scientifically accurate, but these general polls have severe problems 99.99% of the time. One being that mean and median age of respondents is much higher than that of the general population. So yes, probably they were.

+9

Level 66

Jul 7, 2017

A lot of Americans in the tech and auto industries (among others) would consider Japan their biggest economic enemy, it's probably not what the question meant but that doesn't stop them answering that way.

+14

Level 67

May 1, 2018

I remember a guy in a bar telling me that the 2011 tsunami was God punishing the Japanese for Pearl Harbor. Obliterating two cities with the atomic bomb wasn't good enough, so God decided to wait 70 years until anyone old enough to have any say in the decision to ally with Germany was dead or close to it, and then strike.

+21

Level 84

May 1, 2018

He works in mysterious ways

+1

Level 66

Nov 23, 2021

fax

+22

Level 64

Dec 19, 2015

Alas, a featured quiz where the US stands the least-guessed!

+13

Level 35

May 9, 2016

Hallelujah

+2

Level 73

May 3, 2018

I mean, it's got to be one of the only ones out there, right? Are there any other ones where the USA is a correct answer and so few people guessed it?

Great point you've made. Now I'll be looking out for this.

+1

Level 55

Sep 14, 2020

Lol Quizzer

+1

Level 28

Oct 2, 2022

there's a first time for everything

+17

Level 64

Dec 19, 2015

Obviously, they're not an enemy, but I was really surprised that nobody said Mexico regarding the immigration issue.

+7

Level 66

Jun 4, 2016

I guessed Mexico

+3

Level 70

Jun 5, 2016

Yeah, but people don't blame *Mexico* for that, because it's not like people think their government is *sending* them here – it's just that lots of Mexicans want to come here for a better life, yadda yadda yadda. Americans blame our *own* government for not deporting them all pronto, and not building a giant wall to keep them out. Specifically, they blame President Obama. Thanks, Obama!

+4

Level 83

Aug 30, 2016

Pretty sure Trump suggested that was precisely what the Mexican government were doing.

+2

Level 59

Nov 2, 2021

If he did, I don't think that it was terribly clear.

+5

Level 59

Dec 20, 2015

I'm an American with a degree in history, and am mostly optimistic about other Americans, but I was able to get all but one (I feel like 'US itself,' is a trick question) just by saying "Americans can be stupid, so which nations do stupid people just plain dislike?"

I'm honestly surprised Germany and the UK aren't on it. In a Donald Trump America, Mexico would move up in the rankings quickly.

+6

Level 87

Apr 28, 2020

A year before the election. Interesting.

+2

Level 59

Nov 2, 2021

Except it didn't. :O

+1

Level 29

Dec 20, 2015

why is Venezuela on here?

+7

Level 68

Dec 21, 2015

Because of the constant denunciations of Hugo Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro, by the Bush and Obama administration, echoed in large sections of the media. Chavez not only used Venezuela's oil wealth to create a form of socialism, but vigorously opposed U.S. meddling in Venezuela's affairs (including the failed coup during Chavez' first term that the Bush Administration cheered on) and tried to organize a regional alliance, with Bolivia, Cuba and sometimes Ecuador, of left-leaning states opposed to U.S. policies. Chavez and Maduro have also attempted to repress domestic opposition (with mixed results), which U.S. governments have historically ignored when friendly regimes engage in it but denounce when done by opponents.

+1

Level 67

Mar 28, 2017

Thanks for the explanation, I was wondering about Venezuela as well.

+1

Level 71

Jul 2, 2017

And they don't have extradition agreements with USA. (ask Harry Pfarrer in Burn After Reading)

+4

Level 67

Jan 29, 2020

This comment, which was terrible when made, managed to age very poorly.

+2

Level 84

May 1, 2018

Several Latin American countries have politics and leaders that are openly hostile to the United States. Venezuela and Cuba might be the most well known but Bolivia and Colombia are similarly vocal in their anti-Americanism. I don't think any of them have actually been a threat to the United States, though, at least not since Cuba was accepting shipments of nuclear missiles from the Soviet Union.

+1

Level 65

Dec 20, 2015

After taking this quiz, I gave up all hope in humanity

+1

Level 52

Nov 27, 2017

Well, there's still all the other countries. I hear the UK is very nice at all times of year.

+5

Level 37

Mar 11, 2018

As long as you don't eat the food!

+3

Level 76

May 2, 2018

As long as you stay away from Midsomer - murder capital of the UK. ;)

+2

Level 51

Apr 26, 2022

People can be stupid anywhere.

+6

Level 42

Dec 21, 2015

Japan, France, WTF?

+3

Level 44

Dec 23, 2015

I thought that France is one of the USA's strongest allies!

+3

Level 35

Jan 4, 2016

American were angry at the time cause France wasn't supporting us in a war.

+11

Level 71

Feb 15, 2016

France has one ally an one ally only ........... France.

+2

Level 67

Dec 26, 2016

'Allo 'allo

+1

Level 43

Mar 24, 2022

I would argue, due to the prevalence of french revolutions, that this comment is not actually accurate

+7

Level 69

Sep 8, 2017

Freedom fries!

+6

Level 48

Nov 9, 2020

Belgian Fries!

+1

Level 36

Dec 23, 2015

Didn't know Venezuela was a threat but was surprised Mexico want on there. Typed France and Cuba randomly and got them :p

+2

Level 50

Jan 20, 2020

To be honest, none of these countries, with the remote possible exceptions of North Korea and Iran (and then mostly of the US's own making), are a threat to the US.

+2

Level 50

Jan 20, 2020

Actually, I'll revise that. The US is in some respects a threat to itself, and Russia could be considered a threat through interference in elections.

+1

Level 59

Nov 2, 2021

By making fake news articles? Releasing private emails? I'm still a little unclear on what Russia did.

+1

Level 61

Dec 23, 2015

Ha missed US

+11

Level 74

Dec 25, 2015

as an iranian: whith honor and pride; the number one enemy of us is united states who has toppled over a dozen of popular and independent governments and is backing enemies of democracy (mostly arab tyrannical regimes).

+2

Level 35

Jan 4, 2016

Unfortunately true.

+2

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

It's not. If Iran were willing to engage in peaceful trade, diplomacy, and coexistence with the United States and the rest of the world they would have nothing to fear from them. As they did prior to 1979. And as they were moving toward doing again before Trump took over. Once he's gone the door will be open again.

+12

Level 71

Feb 15, 2016

I'll bet you don't live in Iran though.

+1

Level 52

Apr 29, 2020

I’ve seen videos of your country. Not the militaristic things, but the sights to see there. Iran is a beautiful country with rich history. But since I’m an American, I can’t go. Since 9/11, we have been taking armies to the Middle East to “sort things out.” But it’s true that we have gone a bit overboard, just because Iran became “a hub for terrorism” and because the country doesn’t support one of the US’ closest current allies, Israel. Because of the hate surrounding us, I’m sometimes afraid to reveal that I’m American. I hope some day, I can go to the Iran Mall and know that I won’t be hated because of my nationality.

+2

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

I know a bunch of Americans who have visited Iran. It's still possible to go there.

+2

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

Even moreso than citizens of the United States should be wary of the US government or the country itself, Iranians ought to be as well- the number one threat to you in Iran are those in power and the people in the country blinded by propaganda that support them. They will try and convince you to hate Americans and blame everything on them as a way of distracting from their own failures as leaders. Trump does the same thing - trying to get everyone to call COVID-19 the "China virus," for example - he and other incompetent autocratic leaders around the world have a lot in common. Also, the Iranian ayatollahs are no better than any Arab kings. This is more propaganda.

+3

Level 76

May 26, 2016

Who are these people who are saying France and Japan?

Also, are there people that uneducated to think that the Middle East is one country?

+3

Level 59

Jun 4, 2016

They didn't. They're talking generally. And they're not wrong either.

+6

Level 66

Apr 7, 2019

The question does say "name ONE country".

+5

Level 50

Jan 20, 2020

Actually, they are very wrong.

+2

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

I get countries like Yemen and Syria in the Middle East, but the small countries on the Persian Gulf pose no threat to any country. Seriously, you think Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE are going to annihilate you in a war. Really. (although I doubt many Americans even know the Persian Gulf exists)

+2

Level 35

Jun 4, 2016

Japan??

+1

Level 70

Jun 5, 2016

Likely residual icky feelings about WWII. See my and others' comments, above.

+5

Level 76

May 2, 2018

When one of my daughters was a teenager, she and her boyfriend were playing Trivial Pursuit with us. One of the questions was about dropping the bomb on Japan and her boyfriend looked incredulous as he asked, "We fought a war with Japan?" It made me realize what a difference a generation can make. (And it also made me wonder what is being taught in history class these days.)

+2

Level 51

Jun 16, 2016

I never would have guessed the US itself

+1

Level 68

Jul 4, 2016

Same here... Theres something wrong when you think your own country is your worst ennemy...

+5

Level 67

Mar 28, 2017

I didn't think to guess it, but once I saw the US was an answer, I was immediately like "yeah, that makes sense." It's true in more than one sense of the word - hardly anyone trusts the government (and with good reason), we're sharply divided against each other politically and getting worse all the time, and gang violence and public shootings are still a major problem that kills more US citizens than any other nation does.

+3

Level 37

Aug 24, 2017

Absolutely! - Add to that third-world wages and health care, the lack of truly affordable housing and the onslaught of taxes, fines, duties, tolls, value-added taxes ad infinitum and you can certainly understand why many Americans consider our own country our greatest enemy. We are always the first in line to send aid to other countries (even when we're not asked to) while our own people are underpaid, under employed and under attack. What would YOU call that!

+2

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

Also how they elected Trump proves that they are up to some schemes.

+1

Level 68

Jul 4, 2016

and what about Al-Quaida in these lists???

+5

Level 63

Aug 19, 2016

Are you typing that 'answer' in when you do the countries of the world quiz!?

+1

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

Al-Qaeda has never had its own country; not even when they were being harbored by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They were just guests.

+3

Level 42

Aug 19, 2016

France and Japan? Seriously?

+4

Level 83

Aug 30, 2016

France in the era of Freedom Fires.... Japan because, I dunno, Pearl Habor's still living on in infamy?

+2

Level 83

Aug 30, 2016

Japan was probably kept alive in these results by the phase of economic anxiety when it seemed Japan was threatening to surpass the US economically, though even that's 20-30 years back now.

+3

Level 58

Nov 17, 2016

quoting USA itself as it's potential own enemy seemed self deprecation at the time.

Today, in light of the presidential election, some might find it cruelly prophetic.

+1

Level 59

Jan 18, 2017

It will be interesting to see a 2017 version about halfway through the year.

+1

Level 53

Dec 8, 2016

Odd. People think that they are their own enemy...

+1

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

and yet they still get accused of blind jingoism all the time.

+3

Level 58

Jan 14, 2017

Japan ??

+3

Level 73

Mar 3, 2017

Not only is Japan not an enemy, they are one of our best allies. Go figure!

+1

Level 32

Mar 28, 2017

of course no americans thought that us would be an enemy of itself

+3

Level 69

Mar 28, 2017

I would love to see the answers for this poll if it were taken today. I would imagine russia, north korea, and U.S. itself would all get big bumps based on recent events.

+9

Level 78

Mar 28, 2017

Liechtenstein is our biggest threat.

+1

Level 73

Jun 21, 2018

Nah, it's Belgium.

+4

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

Actually, its Sealand. They're hiding their submarines under the water.

+1

Level 55

Sep 30, 2021

nah pretty sure they hide their submarines on islands.

+1

Level 40

Apr 23, 2017

USA!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?

+2

Level 49

May 9, 2017

Strange how people thought Russia was more of a threat than ISIS.

+8

Level 32

May 24, 2017

I would say that greenland (Denmark)is a far bigger threat to america than russia or china because thats were all the land ice is melting causing sea rising

+4

Level 84

Jan 28, 2020

It's strange that you would think this was strange. Russia is and always has been a much bigger threat.

+4

Level 55

Jun 23, 2020

Russia is not as much of a threat as it was back in the Cold-War era. Where as, China looks like a bigger threat to US as of now.

+1

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

Russia is still a much bigger threat than China. They are actively and aggressively working to undermine American and European democracies. They have assassinated Westerners on Western soil. They have put bounties on the heads of American servicemen. They've been pulling the strings of our idiot president to get him to act against the interests of the American people. China has done none of that.

+2

Level 84

Mar 24, 2022

and now...

+1

Level 56

Jul 3, 2017

Soooo, people don't seem to know that Nixon normalized relations with China, that we've been staunch allies with Japan since 1945, that neither ISIS or Palestine are official states and that the "Middle East" is one country. Dear God we're all screwed!

+1

Level 73

May 1, 2018

Depends on how you look at Palestine, but you do make a good point

+1

Level 48

Mar 28, 2022

Why would you ever think China is no longer off the radar despite Nixon's actions?

+2

Level 65

Jul 3, 2017

Constantly having perceived enemies to keep the populace afraid, not only makes people easily manipulable, but it helps keep lots of people in the military industrial industries rich and happy. The whole 'weapons of mass destruction' thing was a classic beat beat up just to instill fear in people and so many people learnt nothing from it or forget all about it after a couple of years. The USA itself should probably be top of the lists.

+1

Level 66

Jul 3, 2017

haha tricky, i liked it!

+2

Level 63

Jul 20, 2017

japan makes zero sense? I have lived in phoenix Arizona my whole life and have never once heard a single person say anything bad about japan. In fact many Americans consider japan to be our 2nd closest ally after the UK

+2

Level 37

Aug 25, 2017

I thought Israel was our closest ally after the UK.

+1

Level 73

May 1, 2018

Canada?

+3

Level 52

Sep 17, 2017

The only one I missed was Japan. Who the heck sees Japan as a threat? Are they stuck in the '40s? The war is over; friends now. ;) I'm not saying that I agree on all the others being a threat; I just know where the idea came from. But Japan I am completely baffled by.

+1

Level 44

Feb 10, 2018

I thought of Aliens but not about USA :D

+1

Level 37

Mar 3, 2018

I can only hope that in seventy years or so, many of those who commented here about Japan are as ready to forgive the terrorists who flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as they are forgiving of Japan today. I wasn't born in 1941, but I still remember the horror with which my parents referred to that day (and they were barely teenagers at the time). We must NEVER forget assaults on our country, regardless of when they happened.

+7

Level 71

Apr 1, 2018

Japan and terrorists are different in multiple ways. In 1941 it was much more clear who we were fighting, an actual country. Since 2001 it's harder to tell who we are fighting, terrorists are dressed in civilian clothing making it much more difficult to tell. And we don't forgive Japan for attacking the US, but that was a different Japan than what Japan is today. After we won in the Pacific we helped Japan rewrite a new constitution as well as we gave them capitalistic ideology allowing them to become one of the most tech advanced countries in the world along with South Korea where us Americans get most of are tech from. So, no we won't forgive anyone who attacked are great nation.

+3

Level 67

May 1, 2018

What about Canada? In 1814 our side burned down your Whitehouse, I would think that would have put us on the "A" list of unforgiveness.

+6

Level 67

May 1, 2018

We took our revenge on Canada by coaxing all the best Canadian hockey players to play for American cities in the NHL.

+1

Level 76

May 2, 2018

Watch "Canadian Bacon" if you want to know what we're capable of - "Surrender pronto, or we'll level Toronto!" We're watching you up there, and "we have ways of making you speak the letter O, pal."

+4

Level 84

May 1, 2018

Who said anything about forgiving terrorists? If all terrorists were from the country of Terrorististan and 70 years from now that country was as secular and peaceful as Japan is today, I don't think anyone would have any problem not bearing any animus toward this imaginary country's citizens. At the same time that doesn't mean we're going to be okay with the 9/11 hijackers any more than today we're going to forgive the soldiers who oversaw the rape of Nanjing or the surgeons who did unspeakable things in Unit 731. But not all terrorists are from the same place and they don't represent any national entity.

Then you go on to say we should NEVER forget assaults on "our country." So... does that mean that you were being sarcastic? And that you think we are wrong to not hate the people of Japan today for something that their government did in the 1940s?

Confusing comment...

+2

Level 77

Oct 3, 2019

divantilya - I didn't expect someone with at least a passable general knowledge and the ability to articulate himself to write a comment of such stupidity and near-sightedness. If your attitude had a shred of validity, how many countries could I hate, and how many peoples in foreign countries could hate me, for deeds that happened decades ago and that were committed by different people. I'm glad that the vast majority of Eurpeans don't think like you, because otherwise we would be at each others' throats all the time, and I'm glad the vast majority of Americans disagree with you, because otherwise the world would be even much more of a war-torn hell than it is now already. If your parents held a life-long grudge against the Japanese and even passed it on to you, what is the proper reaction of an Iraqi guy who lost his whole family because of American bombings? Terrorism, perhaps?

+1

Level 77

Oct 3, 2019

Reading your comment above your parents aren't even American, which makes your line of reasoning completely abstruse.

+10

Level ∞

Apr 2, 2018

My list:

6. Venezuela

5. China

4. North Korea

3. Russia

2. United States itself

1. Belgium

+6

Level 31

Apr 18, 2018

You've got a bit of thing about Belgium haven't you?

+13

Level 84

May 1, 2018

What are they hiding in all those little pockets they put in their pancakes? Definitely suspicious.

+3

Level 84

May 1, 2018

Right now the greatest threat to the country is coming from the executive branch, followed closely by the legislative and then the judicial. I'd put Russia as #2, though of course they had a lot to do with undermining American democracy they would not have succeeded if not for the groundwork laid for them by the Republican party and conservative media and their oligarch masters, assisted as always by the liberals who have their heads so firmly up their own rears they can't see how to win and unloseable election and devote at least half their attention to worrying about the wrong things.

After #1 and #2 I don't think anyone out there is a genuine threat to the United States. If forced to pick somebody I guess China might be #3 but that's mostly because they have an effective government while the US does not and while their power grows America's necessarily wanes; not because of any nefarious intent.

+1

Level 84

May 11, 2022

update: #1 Russia #2 the judicial branch (after being stacked to the gills with awfulness by the other 2 branches for decades) #3 the legislative branch #4 China #5 North Korea

The executive is no longer a threat to the country or the world but that could change quickly.

+1

Level 62

May 1, 2018

Why the Belgium hate?

+2

Level 72

Jan 30, 2020

It's those evil waffles

+1

Level 48

May 1, 2018

Surprised about USA itself

+3

Level 84

May 1, 2018

All the people who are expressing some sense of despair at this: did you notice that the list of perceived enemies is shrinking smaller and smaller year by year? And none of the odd or surprising answers are above 2%. Don't get so excited.

+3

Level 67

Jun 13, 2018

The reason the list was so short in 2018 was because so many people agreed that North Korea was the biggest enemy. A long list doesn't indicate the perception of many enemies: just that people are in disagreement.

+2

Level 84

Jul 10, 2018

Right. But it makes sense to be worried about North Korea. (though it would make more sense to worry about Russia) The fact that more people are getting a "correct" answer and fewer are throwing out answers like France, Japan, or Cuba is good news, right?

+2

Level 67

Jul 13, 2018

If people stop thinking France is more of a threat than North Korea that could be down to either decreased stupidity or more worry about North Korea or both. (I would guess it was mainly due to the incidents with the ICBMs). But it isn't really good news if in someone's mind North Korea just overtakes France as #1 enemy (admittedly there were a few years inbetween, but it is a simplification).

+1

Level 84

Apr 6, 2019

I'm still going to take it as good news. It's rare that I can feel optimistic about the intelligence of the average citizen, so I take what I can get.

+1

Level 67

Jun 13, 2018

But I agree that there is little reason for despair in these statistics. It is just a list of countries that people either don't like or feel worried about. There are always going to be some stupid answers and a wide range of plausible ones.

+4

Level 55

May 1, 2018

France! HAHAHA!!!!

+4

Level 57

May 1, 2018

France and Japan cracked me up too.

Also the people who answered "the Middle East". Aside from thinking "the Middle East" is a single country, the most plausible reason I can think of is that people think all/most of the countries in the ME act collectively with aligned goals, which is also an amusing level of ignorance.

+1

Level 58

Sep 29, 2020

I think the reason France is there is that they didn’t help us in the war on terror. You know, Freedom Fries stuff.

+13

Level 59

May 1, 2018

Too bad you can't include other enemies - like Fox News.

+1

Level 71

Aug 8, 2018

One of the best comments I‘ve read so far!

+1

Level 84

Dec 4, 2019

and Russia Today. Though they're virtually the same these days.

+4

Level 67

May 1, 2018

Japan? The Yanks still upset over Pearl Harbor or something?

+1

Level 57

May 1, 2018

That was my first thought, but Vietnam isn't on there, so I don't think its people thinking about decades-old wars. I have other weak guesses that people view Japan as an economic threat (was a big thing in the 1980s but not so plausible recently) or some political news we've now forgotten that had people's attention at the time (e.g., talking of revising their constitution to allow broader use of their military -- although that is more recent than the survey results).

+5

Level 84

Jul 10, 2018

I actually do think that it's Pearl Harbor. My grandmother's generation (rapidly dying off now, might be why it's no longer an answer in 2018) is still very mad at Japan. But my father's generation (who fought in Vietnam)? I don't think they're holding a grudge at all. Those are the people more likely to answer that America is it's own greatest enemy. They never really understood why we were fighting Vietnam in the first place.

+1

Level 48

May 1, 2018

Obviously the topic is subjective, but I think the U.S. and Russia should be tied for first. While you could argue politics and economy, let's remember that between the two countries, the world has almost ended multiple times simply from nuclear threat. Will the two countries get along? I don't know, and that's the scary part.

+1

Level 67

May 1, 2018

Based on some comments I've heard while traveling through the South, I'm surprised the Confederacy isn't on here.

+6

Level 67

May 1, 2018

I once saw a bumper sticker that said "North: 1, South: 0. Halftime." I have to admit, it was pretty funny.

+1

Level 76

May 2, 2018

I also see one that says, "He** no, we ain't forgettin'!" My favorite is, "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." Regarding the US being on the enemy list, Walt Kelly's 'possum Pogo said it best, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

+4

Level 91

May 1, 2018

This is a great quiz. It's also sad. I'm from the USA, and a lot of the people I talk to say North Korea is a huge threat ... and surprise, surprise, they don't even know where it is, or anything about it's population, size of its military, or the estimates of the types of weapons N.Korea might have. Most of these answers are based on ignorance t and "American" arrogance and bigotry and not on any real knowledge of the global landscape. ...and I'm in the 1% that put USA as its own #1 enemy. The whole thing about Russia messing with the election, however much Russia did troll US social media, ultimately, it is/was the ignorance of Americans who believed it. Most 'fake news' is easy to spot if you have even half an education and falling for it requires a special kind of stupid.

+1

Level 63

May 1, 2018

Love this quiz

+1

Level 69

May 1, 2018

This is a quiz website. The only thing jetpunk cares about are numbers. Not politics. And even when it's about politics, it's about the numbers. You will never see a quiz that says, How do you feel about........on jetpunk. Your feelings are insignificant........jetpunk data rulz. All your base are belong to us!!!!!!!!

+2

Level 56

May 1, 2018

we all know japan is the biggest threat to world peace .

THE ANIME APOCALYPSE IS COMING!!!

+4

Level 62

May 2, 2018

Where is Israel?

+11

Level 67

May 2, 2018

At the east end of the Mediterranean, just west of Jordan.

+9

Level 84

May 3, 2018

While it's ridiculous to consider Israel a threat to the United States, I was also mildly surprised to see that there weren't at least 1% of people who said that it was. Particularly among liberal Millennials, college students, and Muslim-Americans I think this would be a popular answer. This might be another clue that the polling data skews toward older respondents.

+1

Level 50

Apr 28, 2020

There should be at least small percentage who are against world Jewry, controlling of banks and media, human right violations. So it's not really ridiculous

+3

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

As someone who advocates opposition to "world Jewry", I would not think of you as a reliable arbiter of what is and is not ridiculous.

+1

Level 52

May 2, 2018

Surprised not to see Giedi Prime on this list.

+1

Level 47

May 7, 2018

ha united states as it's own enemy

+1

Level 21

Jun 2, 2018

The fact the US itself is on there makes me dislike America even more... And I'm American...

+6

Level 84

Jul 10, 2018

Start disliking it enough and maybe you'll be one of the people answering that way.

+1

Level 49

Jun 26, 2018

Wow, only one I didn't get was USA itself...

+4

Level 37

Jul 22, 2018

WELL, at least the numbers are shrinking (only 6 enemies in 2018).

But please don't tell Trump that his "pet" Russia remains on the list! -

+4

Level 66

Apr 7, 2019

Also don't tell Trump that Mexico isn't on the list.

+2

Level 73

Aug 20, 2021

Yeah all that Russian collusion was crazy that got proven with all that hard evidence that it was happening. Good thing Donald is in jail for that now.

+2

Level 61

Nov 12, 2018

Why is Japan here?

+4

Level 58

Jan 16, 2019

US is so hated it hates itself

+4

Level 84

Apr 6, 2019

Americans are more capable of self-reflection and accepting of honest criticism (and, ironically given the false stereotypes, less given to mindless blind patriotism) than most people around the world, that's why.

+1

Level 70

Apr 28, 2020

They are MILES ahead of Muslim countries for that. Turkey cowers from their role in the Armenian genocide and tries to justify it. Part of Arab tribalism is deflecting the problems of one's community onto another. I used to be Muslim and I learnt a lot in that time.

+1

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

honestly they're ahead of just about everyone in this regard except maybe Germany.

+2

Level 41

Mar 10, 2019

I'm german and I wonder why Germany isn't in there

+1

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

Does seem odd that they wouldn't be on the list but Japan would be. The answer is probably racism.

+1

Level 76

Apr 6, 2019

Boy, I sure hope those who think Russia is the #1 enemy of the US don't go straight into McCarthyism. I hope even more that they don't double down harder now that the Mueller report has concluded with no indictments. Too late.

+4

Level 48

Apr 7, 2019

There were many indictments. 34 so far.

I also hope we can end Russian influence and crime without going into McCarthyism.

+1

Level 84

Jan 28, 2020

Jesus. Watch some real news.

+2

Level 43

May 14, 2019

How in the world are France and Japan on here?

+1

Level 84

Jun 2, 2019

There are a bunch of comments above answering this.

+1

Level 74

Jun 2, 2019

How is the US a threat to itself?

+8

Level 84

Dec 4, 2019

A hegemonic power cannot be challenged from without, it can only collapse from within.

+4

Level 67

Jan 28, 2020

The fact that a question like this even has to exist and has so many on the list proves how messed up America is. No wonder they need to spend so much on military. It isn't so they can back up other countries like Canada etc., it's because they piss off so many people around the world and because they invade other countries for no credible reason (i.e Iraq.) Make a question like this about almost any other wealthy country or certainly western wealthy country and you'd have no list!

+4

Level 84

Jan 28, 2020

This is false. In fact there's another quiz on the site about Russia's perceived enemies. I'm sure you could do the same poll in the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy... and can think of probable answers for all of the above... which hippy commune are you from where the people get along with everyone and have never had any historical rivalries, conflicts, or disagreements?

+1

Level 51

Jan 29, 2020

Ugh of course people would say the US itself nowadays... missed that

+1

Level 84

Jan 30, 2020

I'm sure the USSR would have dominated any such poll all during the Cold War, with mentions of Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Egypt, East Germany and so on. It's sad to see that Russia had sunk so low - down to 2% some years - only to resurge the way it has. And it's mostly Vladimir Putin's fault. Things could have gone a different way.

+4

Level 55

Apr 25, 2020

Are Americans really that petty? France? Just because they wouldn't support the War on Terror? I'm slightly embarrassed to be one rn

+1

Level 43

Apr 28, 2020

yeahhh but the poll was only given to Americans, give to citizens of any other country and it would be interesting to see what the answers are

+1

Level 59

Apr 28, 2020

I tried USSR, a bit disappointed that it didnt work.

+1

Level 76

Apr 28, 2020

The last year the USSR existed was 1991. The first year the quiz uses is 2001.

+3

Level 59

Apr 28, 2020

France, Saudi Arabia, Japan... US allies... Americans know nothing about their government foreign relations

+1

Level 68

Apr 28, 2020

Interesting that, apart from Cuba and the USA itself, so many "enemies" are so geographically distant.....

+3

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

That is interesting. Most of the time if you conducted similar polls in other countries, the list would be dominated by other countries that were geographically proximate. The USA, in spite of once invading Canada, and going to war with Mexico, doesn't seem to hold a grudge for very long the way some other cultures do, and tend to get along better with their neighbors.

Another reason for this might be that the USA has the capability of projecting military power and economic and political influence all over the world; they can make enemies everywhere; other countries can only do this more locally.

+1

Level 68

Apr 28, 2020

Very good points there - I guess the question that I would ask if I was an American is why the country wants to have the "capability of projecting military power and economic and political influence all over the world", and therefore the ability to make enemies everywhere..... Looking at the enormous military "defense" budget, it seems like quite an expensive job!

+1

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

some do, some don't. but I think realistically it's more a question of responsibility than desire.

+1

Level 71

Apr 28, 2020

US itself was quite the curveball

+1

Level 84

Sep 26, 2020

bigger curveball was that this disappears from the answers in 2016-2020, the years when the United States clearly did become its own worst enemy, or at least a good chunk of its government and the population that supports it.

+1

Level 27

Nov 28, 2020

I put every country in North America first and I accidentally put the USA and got it lmao

+1

Level 59

Apr 28, 2020

Wow, some Americans really do seem to hold grudges!

+1

Level 57

Apr 28, 2020

Saudi Arabia made me laugh a lot

+1

Level 31

Apr 28, 2020

People are on here debating about France, and I'm here trying to figure out how I missed USA itself lol.

+1

Level 47

Apr 28, 2020

I would urge any respondent to this poll which suggested that the USA is its own worst enemy, move to one of the other nations in the poll results.

+3

Level 77

Apr 28, 2020

The fact that many places are less livable doesn't mean that they are bigger threats to the US than (parts of) itself.

+3

Level 58

Apr 28, 2020

I would urge you to understand that answering the USA doesn't mean you prefer any other countries from this poll results.

Maybe it means you prefer many other countries which are not in this poll results.

+3

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

I'm sure that those who are self-reflective enough to understand that the US is imperfect and that fundamentally it is a greater threat to itself than any foreign power could hope to be, answer this way out of love for the country and a desire to see it improve, or despair at seeing it being taken down or made worse. Not because they hate the US and wish to live somewhere else.

+1

Level 67

May 12, 2020

So you want every decent person to leave? OK, cool.

+1

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

I tried answers that would be obvious to a more educated person, such as all the individual countries of the Middle East, but then I noticed that the questionnaire was asked to the average American - so I then started guessing the things that don't even make sense, such as Germany, France and Italy. It's sad that one of them worked!

+1

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

I mean I guess Germany kind of makes sense, because of both world wars, but I don't think the average American even knew Italy even fought in WWII, despite them being an Axis Power.

+1

Level 48

Jun 12, 2022

I think he was just trying to guess countries that there was a realistic chance that Americans actually knew of

+2

Level 61

Apr 28, 2020

no Israel? huh. and relax, people. i didn't say Jewish people. i said Israel. significant difference.

+1

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

Well, Israel and the US are allies (the reason why the United States is vetoing Palestinian membership in the UN) and I'm not sure how it could suddenly come to an Americans head that Israel is a "bad guy".

+1

Level 58

Apr 28, 2020

Well Israel's prime minister was stirring up a lot of sentiment against former president Obama, and by extension the Democratic party. Now look who is in the Oval Office. The one person who has destroyed our health care system during the worst pandemic in a century, and turned this country into a laughing stock throughout the world.

+2

Level 62

Apr 28, 2020

I guess Israel was counted through the Middle East, but Israel is getting constant help from the US and is not like the Arab states in the Middle East where if your not Muslim, your dead. Israel has the highest quality of life in the Middle East and is a peaceful and prosperous nation, just geographically situated in a bad area.

+1

Level 84

Apr 28, 2020

The fact that you feel the need to announce you are not bigoted against Jews before anyone else even responded to you suggests that you might be bigoted against Jews.

+1

Level 58

Apr 28, 2020

So if I understand, when they were asked which COUNTRY may be an enemy, some answered Middle East ?

Well it shows pretty well how accurate their opinions are...

+1

Level 86

Apr 28, 2020

Japan?! Did they conduct this survey in a rest home? ;)

+2

Level 65

Apr 28, 2020

Where's Canada? I'm telling you now USA; those drug dealing Snow Mexicans are tunneling in under your border fences and their coming for your daughters! I've warned you...

+1

Level 32

Apr 28, 2020

Missed Cuba, Usa, Venezuela, and Libya. 😑😐

+2

Level 42

Apr 28, 2020

I knew the United States hated itself but i didn't know it would be on the list..

+1

Level 44

Apr 28, 2020

Nice updated version! <3 Interesting recent swing back to mid 20th century type answers, seems like Cold War II is realer than ever nowadays. I wonder if without the current virus China would’ve still figured so highly this year though??

+1

Level 72

Apr 28, 2020

Where’s Petoria?

+2

Level 65

Apr 29, 2020

Where is Wadiya?

+2

Level 51

Apr 29, 2020

One noticeable thing here for me is the rapid rise of Russia in this list. I would bet it has to do with media coverage of Russia's supposed influence in the US election and perhaps Russia's involvement in the Syrian civil war and Ukraine.

+2

Level 84

May 2, 2020

Or maybe it has to do with Russia's influence in the US election? Which was a real thing that happened. Just a thought.

... could also be Russia actively meddling in elections all over the world notably in Europe, trying to bring down NATO and Western democracy, propping up nationalists and Nazis and populists and nativists and those given to identity politics and other undesirables because these people inspire disunity and strife, invading and occupying sovereign nations to redraw borders through military conquest for the first time in Europe since the end of World War 2, Putin's obvious desire to resurrect the Soviet Union, the shooting down of commercial passenger airlines, the shameless murder of numerous critics of the regime both within Russia's borders and abroad, and their support of Donald Trump who remains the single greatest threat to the present international order and prosperity of the world. Could be that, too.

+1

Level 48

Jun 12, 2022

??? After that list of stuff Putin is doing you still think Trump is a bigger threat to world prosperity? Oops, just now realized this comment was from 2020...

+1

Level 84

Sep 21, 2022

Currently with Trump mostly out of power at Mar-a-Lardo and mired in legal troubles, and Putin threatening to annex parts of Ukraine? No. Putin is clearly a bigger threat at present. But that has the potential to change.

+2

Level 42

May 26, 2020

I'm very surprised Mexico isn't on the list. Only one I missed was usa itself! lol

+1

Level 36

Jun 23, 2020

same here

+2

Level 84

Aug 12, 2020

Americans are more afraid of Mexicans than Mexico.

+1

Level 65

Aug 31, 2020

Funny that Americans still see Iraq as a threat, when it was the US who invaded them by lying that they had weapons of mass destruction (which they didn't). Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths has been the result of it, and George W. Bush who was the one who invaded Iraq has not been penalized of his war crimes.

+1

Level 55

Sep 4, 2020

Are American Presidents EVER penalized for war crimes? This is America. America decides who is penalized.

+1

Level 84

Sep 26, 2020

Most of the time war criminals are only punished if they lose. America doesn't lose many wars. Not so far, anyway.

+1

Level 57

Sep 29, 2020

Imagine living in 2020 and thinking that Russia is a bigger threat to the US than China or Iran

+4

Level 76

Sep 29, 2020

I think 2020 is proving that the greatest enemy of the United States is the United States itself

+3

Level 84

Nov 10, 2020

Some self-preservation instinct finally kicked in in early November. But, yeah, this is probably still true.

+4

Level 57

Feb 18, 2021

Japan and France :D

For some reason I guessed them both, but not USA ITSELF.

+3

Level 46

May 25, 2021

The "United States itself" answer was one I did not see coming.

What a plot twist.

+2

Level 59

May 30, 2021

Ok "US itself" wowww

I was actually thinking of typing it as a joke but I didn't smh, only other I missed was Libya I guessed Algeria and Egypt but not Libya

+3

Level 59

May 30, 2021

I feel like whoever said Japan is stuck in the 1940s

+1

Level 67

Aug 20, 2021

France? What?

+5

Level 27

Dec 12, 2021

japan and france are some of the USA biggets allys and closest

+2

Level 61

Jan 18, 2022

I laughed when I realized USA was one of the options

+1

Level 55

Feb 13, 2022

The caveats say 'necessarilty' instead of 'necessarily'.

+2

Level 22

May 11, 2022

I can't believe I missed North Korea out of all countries

+2

Level 55

May 11, 2022

Interesting answers but not really at the same time.

+1

Level 40

May 12, 2022

Other than maybe Russia, the US is probably its own worst enemy.

+2

Level 67

May 15, 2022

yo who the heck is saying Japan or France

+1

Level 84

Sep 21, 2022

Japan: old people who lived through Pearl Harbor and/or the 80s when Japan was an economic threat. France: Republicans c.2002 eating Freedom Fries.

+1

Level 36

Sep 13, 2022

look all the activists voting the us itself *this is satire”

+1

Level 45

Jan 12, 2023

interesting that there isnt germany but 1% japan, but only in 2002 and 2012 not in between, i wonder wtf theyre thinking

+1

Level 56

Jan 24, 2023

Really surprised that the US made the list every single time... aside from the past eleven years despite all the internal turmoil.

First submitted	April 16, 2015
Times taken	96,965
Average score	73.3%
Rating	4.48