Germany Welcomes Bush Olive Branch in Rift

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government said praise by President Bush for German peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan showed attempts to bridge a transatlantic rift over the war in Iraq were bearing fruit.
Officials in Washington and Berlin have been working hard behind the scenes to mend fences between the two traditional allies in recent months, and Bush's comments were one of the most public signs yet that relations could be improving.

Government spokesman Thomas Steg said Bush's comments praising Germany's role in post-war Afghanistan showed how both countries were committed to cooperation on certain issues.

"This shows quite clearly the interest in continuing to develop the good and friendly relations which have grown over the decades, and strengthening them in the future," Steg said late on Friday.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=5QR0E0ZCHQAGGCRBAE0CFEY?type=politicsNews&storyID=3249931

Number one headline here. Most people feel, that Bush is finally making sense.
That Bush's statement was inconsistent is overlooked (he praises the Afghanistan mission for being a big step from "six months ago"; however: the Afghanistan mission was six months ago; several thousand German soldiers were sent to aid the US, not only in Afghanistan)

At the moment the big question asked is: when will Bush meet Schröder? At the UN or will Schröder fly to the Ranch?