All I have to say to that is that actions speak louder than words. Like I said -- it's much easier to criticize perceived shortfalls than it is to do the work. Germany has had the luxury of sitting back and complaining about how things are done BEACUSE of the U.S. -- out presence in that country ensures, to a certain degree, it's safety. And yet all we here is bitching and moaning about it. So I turn the tables -- what is it YOU want? If your country is to be a true friend of the US, it needs to be prepared to shoulder it's portion of the burden.
Absolutely! Thanks for stating this.
Merkel was not against the Iraq war. She stood on your side and visited Washington in Feb 2003 when she was called an "ass crawler of Bush" at home. With her position, she has proven to have a backbone.
Germany supports the WOT, with the largest contingent in Afghanistan after the US, and several smaller engagements at the Horn of Africa. Our elite soldiers have fought the Taliban from the first days of the war - side by side with your troops.
Even during the Iraq war and afterwards until end of 2004 German soldiers protected the US facilities in Germany as "host nation support" making GI´s available for Iraq. The US will maintain ca. 35,000 soldiers in Germany from 2007 on. This is not essential for our security, especially since we´re surrounded from neutrals or NATO-partners. But it´s nice to have the cooperation between our countries - for you, it means a strategic important place for troops supply (hospital Landstuhl, NATO AFB Ramstein).