Whatever the current burning issue is -- trade with Iraq, support for Israel, building a missile defense system, accepting the International Court -- Americans and West Europeans often find themselves on opposite sides of the argument. (snip) The differences, in brief, are stark: Americans are Mars; Europeans, from Venus. Europeans spend their money on social services, Americans continue to devote large sums to the military. Europeans draw lessons from their successful pacifying of post -1945 Germany; Americans draw lessons from their defeat of Nazi Germany and of the Soviet Bloc. (snip) For complete article click here.