A new opinion poll taken in another country indicates that a large majority – 69 percent – of that country’s population believes the United States bears at least some responsibility for the terrorist attacks of last Sept. 11 because of U.S. policies in the Middle East and around the globe. Fifteen percent say the United States bears all responsibility.

The country in question is not Yemen, Syria or any member of the Axis of Evil Club. It is Canada.

The initial reaction of a large majority of Americans is likely some mix of shock and anger, abated only somewhat by the finding that 14 percent of Canadians find the United States in no way responsible. After the shock and anger subside, the reaction should be puzzlement.

What became of the good will that poured out from friends and allies after the attacks? Was it feigned, the insincerely polite thing to do at the time, temporarily masking true animus? Or was it genuine and heartfelt, and has that good will somehow been squandered?

Unfortunately, the Ipsos-Reid poll provides no such insight. The 1,000 Canadians surveyed were not asked to specify what U.S. policies make this country even partially culpable for the massacre of some 2,800 innocents. This lack of probing leaves it unclear whether more than two-thirds of Canadians find U.S. policy in the Middle East and around the globe so offensive as to justify murder or whether the numbers reflect displeasure over long-standing points of contention between the two nations, such as softwood lumber, fisheries and a general feeling there – encouraged by neighboring ambitious politicians to the north – that their neighbor to the south is altogether too pushy and overbearing.

In fact, the only clarification comes not from poll respondents, but from the pollster. John Wright, vice president

of Ipsos-Reid, says he does not think the numbers are evidence that Canadians are saying Americans deserved it. “I think this is Canadians saying, ‘You are bound to get stung when you stick your hand in the hornets’ nest looking for honey.'”

At the surface, this curious comment may explain the high price of honey in Canada. At a deeper level, Mr. Wright has identified a truth that is evident but largely unacknowledged: The Cold War has been over for well more than a decade; the world has yet to adapt.

When the United States was the most important – really, the only significant – bulwark against the Soviet threat, pushy and overbearing, though usually phrased more politely, was part of the job description. The permanent threat gone, the U.S. role has changed from permanent defender to occasional emergency responder, but neither the United States nor its allies have adjusted to this change. It is what the first President Bush called the New World Order, a realistic and informed observation that nations must recognize the suddenly altered reality. Mr. Bush was often ridiculed for this observation and the result is nearly a decade of confusion and complaining. Not exactly the peace dividend the world had in mind at the time.

This poll was published, in a rather heartless way, just days before the first anniversary of the attacks and, not coincidentally, on the eve of Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s meeting with President George W. Bush on such issues as Iraq and border security. Perhaps they’ll take time to look for the good will that seems to have gone missing.