The attitude shown by the SPD/Green party alliance currently running Germany is not the slightest bit surprising. The Greens are a pacifist group and have previously been quite vocal in their anti-American rhetoric. The SPD is more pragmatic but really has no political need to follow the US on something like an anti-Iraq campaign. What's the likelyhood that some Arab fanatic is going to fly a jet liner into some Frankfurt or Berlin skyscraper? By following the US, the most likely reward for the Germans, would be in making themselves a target of an Arab oil boycott (something they're very sensitive to). The French are in even a worse situation. Supposably the Iraqis owe the French piles of money for weapons, nuclear stuff, etc. The French want their money and they're not going to get it by associating themselves with some American campaign. Also the French are hip deep in Islamic guest workers who could cause all sorts of mischief if France was seen as too pro-American/anti-Islamic. This is Real Politic pure and simple.

Gary