[Tarkin]

Remember that CDU/CSU are NOT conservative in the American or British meaning of the term. They support "Soziale Markwirtschaft" - social market economy, oppose death penalty, are rather ambivalent towards abortion, support high taxes, lots of social benefits etc. Fortunately they also support good relations with USA, and Merkel won't fall in love with Putin as Schroeder did.

[GermanBusiness]

It is true that we should not expect too much from a Merkel government in that she will be on a short tether. A ton of anti-Bush Germans are voting for her to preserve their own economic interests...which cuts her mandate. An above article sites that 56% of Germans want their 2200 troops pulled out of Afghanistan. But I don't think a train bombing would make them go more to the left. A train bombing in Germany would give the USA a mandate for more war and the Germans would not loudly oppose that unless they were asked to fight themselves.

[The Toll]

I have been to Germany many times in the past few years and I think I understand their opposition to the death penalty. My German friends explained to me that they clearly understand the reason German's and Americans see this issue so differently. The US does not have a recent history of the Government deciding to execute anyone it wants for any reason that it chooses. I can see that side of the argument.