Doug,

twenty hours later my response may seem completely out of time, but anyway: You're right about the reason for the opinion split in Germany. 45 years of being told that the USA is the worst enemy (and that is not counting the Nazi time before) doesn't get lost in ten years. It'll take perhaps more than a generation.

The Roman limes had split 'Germany' for about 300 years. Though that was more than 1500 years ago, it still can be felt. The Germans on the Roman side of the limes are wine drinkers and not beer drinkers and they are more sociable and easy going. (I doubt many other German would agree with me on that)

Wolfgang