>>America's reputation among the European public is waning.
Germany's reputation among Americans didn't get any better when they released a terrorist murderer from prison in exchange for a German citizen questionable "hostage" in Iraq.
Sorry, but Hammadi wasn´t released "in exchange" for ex-hostage Osthoff. According to a nation-wide newspaper, 5 Mio. Euro were paid as ransom. And Hammadi was in prison for 19 years, which is above the average for murder in Germany! So, if Hammadi (Hamas member) has such powerful friends, why haven´t they tried to get him out earlier than after (!) the regular time for murder?? No, although the time of the release looks suspicious, there was no "exchange". What would be the connection between Hamas and Iraq anyway?