[RJL]

But a top German official warns that despite improving trans-Atlantic ties, America's reputation among the European public is waning.

Alas, we should be friends and allies, but it's not to be, Americans' opinions of Germany has fallen low as well.

I hope the Muslims treat the German people well.

[bert]

.....America's reputation among the European public is waning....

.....Americans' opinions of Germany has fallen low as well....

It can be argued that Kerry lost the presidency and the balance of American opinion toward Europe. The Rumsfield quip about "old Europe" carried much more weight than the descriptive "friends and allies"

The ties between multinational corporations are the glue still holding it all together.