[Michael81Dus]

"Don´t worry, the Iraq war destroyed all the US reputation, but Barrack Osama will build it up again! :-/

The first half of the sentence is the present, the second is the future. My Icon is an expression of sadness/anxiousness. Although I think that Mr. Obama will make America looking better in the eyes of the world, because he won´t act "unilaterally", he´s also the worst choice for the global problems. So while I hope that the US reputation will increase (because you are our natural friend - given our cultural bonds), I hope it won´t be Obama doing that, but McCain.

[Yardstick]

The Iraq war didn't destroy the US's reputation. Europe had been waiting for some excuse to openly revile the US again, and the Iraq war provided it. The present conditions between US and Europe would've arisen sooner or later, one way or another. If it hadn't been Iraq, it would have been something else. Now that the Cold War is over, we're no longer united against a common enemy, so the natural competitive relationship has reemerged. The competition is even more intense now that the US is so clearly the world's dominant power. And this is to say nothing of the basic ideological differences. These things are the reason for Europe's current feelings toward America. Iraq is just the excuse.

BTW, things seem to be going fairly well in Iraq lately. Is anyone in Europe aware of this?

Although I think that Mr. Obama will make America looking better in the eyes of the world, because he won´t act "unilaterally", he´s also the worst choice for the global problems.

So you agree that the world's problems are best solved when the US is more willing to act unilaterally?