>My position on the matter is far from unique. I'd say that it is very common throughout europe
>
>My experience has been that many Europeans were incensed at widely publicized attitudes from some US politicians and citizens when the invasion of Iraq occurred, but since then it has been replaced by general indifference, in some cases bordering on disdain and in others a sense of relief that European nations managed to stay out of it.

I agree there is a lot of what can be explained as indifference. People tend to be shocked at first but later accept that they don't have any influence on it. But that does not mean they don't form an opinion on it. The lies and hidden motives arround the invasion in iraq (not many europeans will doubt that), the violation of human rights of prisoners and on the other hand the big mouth against china about human rights, the rejection of kyoto or any environmental agreement, did not make the US particular popular up here. Its image is severly damages during the last 8 years.

>But I'm sure you'd agree that you guys don't *hate* Americans or anything silly like that.

It indeed is not hate, at least from my perspective, to the average american as most of them who are educated on the issues above are as fed up with their government as we are. I sincerely hope that the US citizens are going to vote for change and not for a route that will be a continuation of the Bush era. We recognise though that many americans are far less educated on the world outside and more or less are trapped into a world not bigger than their own borders, being largely unaware of anything outside.