You're absolutely right in one regard: other countries have vastly different emissions standards when it comes to their vehicles (not just diesels). So places like Austrlia, South Africa, and elsewhere tend to have a huge consumer demand for diesel engines (for both commercial and private use) because they don't have to contend with complicated and costly emissions compliance.
In fact, that seems to be the major hindrance facing the diesel market in America: emissions compliance. Once the manufacturers figure out that can of worms, which they seem to be working through as we speak, I can envision a lot more truck owners and even commuters buying diesel engines due to their efficiency and longevity.
Are you implying that many people want to buy a diesel for the sake of image? Maybe, but that can be said for a lot of things and products.
What exactly has the diesel industry as a whole "stated" as fact. You've lost me here, though I'm guessing your response is going to consist of some highly subjective lecture.
Actually the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel seems to be making a very good case for diesels in full-sized pickup's...so far the reviews and owner feedback has been fairly positive, especially in regards to the mpg. And the Chevy/GMC 2.8L duramax may make a case for diesels in mid-sized pickup's...we'll see.
And yes, we all want clean air. And if you look at how US emission regulations have changed over the last few decades, the quality of air here in the US is drastically better than what it was in years past. The problem is that much of the rest of the world, especially developing nations, aren't enforcing similar standards, and with their still nascent economies and technological base, are still reliant on cheap fossil fuel sources for a variety of applications (not just cars).
I get what you are saying: some people here in America could make more of an effort to use cleaner energy sources, but that's germane to a lot of different things, not just what car you drive. Heck, you and I simply typing this discussion on our computers uses energy, which more than likely comes from fossil fuel sources (given the nature of the American power grid). There is always room for improvement, but by and large, American industry has made giant leaps in cleaning up; any further discussion of "cleaner air" here in the US becomes largely meaningless if we continue to ignore what the rest of the world is doing.