Well, not meaningless. Popular support among foreign populations helps achieve certain policy goals. For example, a population's support for a US president might provide some pressure (or at least license) for a regime to go along with policy in some way. I'm not saying anything about how large a factor this is, of course, but I just wanted to quibble.
No, you're right--and I should have written "displeasure by itself..." too.
Jerk.
I think it's unfortunate that this is true; in the current US political climate, it's an active handicap to be liked by foreigners. If Kerry had done something stupid enough to piss off everyone in the world, he'd be a shoo-in.