While German-American relations have improved in tone from thethinly veiled hostility of Gerhard Schroeder's chancellorship, allis not perfect between recently re-elected Chancellor Angela Merkeland President Obama. German troops in Afghanistan sit on thesidelines while American and British soldiers fight and die;Germany actively pursues trade with Iran, opposing toughersanctions on the terror regime; Berlin and Moscow are becomingdisconcertingly cozy; and Merkel supports a separate EU defenseforce at the expense of Germany's NATO commitments.