Well no doubt that most WE's would completely go along with you in that, Daniel - I was merely using the US "catchphrase" to simplify explaining what people do still seem to mostly agree on - that taking concrete action to hinder further terrorist attacks is justifiable and even necessary, - but the means should be commensurate with the ends.... and there is much disagreement on the means.
The number of people who thought the invasion of Iraq had anything to do with said "War on terror" was not big to begin with, and I would suppose by now it's been dwindling to a small minority.
What I wonder, is how large a percentage of us Europeans distinguish "America and Americans" and the current administration, and have separate views of the two... Instinctively it's an easy thing to do, and I think to some not inconsiderable degree we all do it. Western Europe owe the US so very much (from recent history), and the US and its high principles of free speech and liberty etc. have overall been such a strong role model for our culture and society and development, has been looked up to and admired (well, sometimes not, like during the Vietnam War - but it's been a love/hate relationship even in those instances) Many have American friends and/or family who they of course like or love no less than before...
So far I've tried to generalize WE opinion without going into my own... but here is that, too:
I believe many of us can't bring ourselves to actually thinking of the Bush administration truly representing the USA. I know I couldn't, at least not during the first four years of the precidency. Like the "real" USA was still the same, intact, but currently partly eclipsed. The re-election was such an enormous shock because it seemed to prove that wrong, - I couldn't believe the American people would cast aside so many of its cherished principles.... would be governed by so much by fear as to give up civil rights and set aside human rights. That was frightening. Honestly, I still can't believe it.
Also I am yet wondering what the fallout of the Patriot Act will be. I think you've not seen the true consequences of that yet, I think most Americans probably don't realize the potentially devastating consequences to their free democracy. And that it's probably irreversible once put in motion - or has any of the Democrat candidates currently wying for the presidency said they'll work to abolish the PA? If so it's slipped by me. Depending on the future practical use of the PA, it may impact WE popular opinion further as concerns the US. (It may also impact WE countries to enact the same type of laws, - many countries have gone a far way in that direction already.)
*sigh* See what you've made me do! I'd promised myself not to get into any political debates like this on the net. Oh well.
