> The US is not particulary known as an innovative country you'd like to think of. A few examples:

Honestly Walter - these examples are ridiculous. Picking a few subjective examples to back up an already silly statement. The US is clearly a huge source of innovation in a large number of fields. It's not all research done by others with US funding. (But even if it were it shows that the US apparently know how to make the money :)

The US has very, very much to admire, as does Europe. And both have enough problems that "throwing stones in glass houses" is a saying that comes to mind.