Some of its all in the prespective. Some of it is helped along by the news media in the United States. Here are several articles from the media on it.

http://www.time.com/time/europe/maga...ver/story.html

http://www.hudsonreview.com/BawerSp04.html

Haven't read the complete article but the skimming it - struck my interest.

http://www.nixoncenter.org/Program%2...no20antiam.htm

Mr. Kennedy noted that, based on extensive polling research of Europeans, there is little evidence to suggest that either the cultural or the economic anti-Americanism persist across Europe today. The real issues are political. Europeans perceive that America is by far the predominant power in the world, and this shapes the way they look world events. Mr. Kennedy cited the oft-mentioned fact that many in Europe perceived at least some measure of causality or association between the events of September 11th and American foreign policy. While many Americans were shocked and discouraged by the number of Europeans holding this view (55%), Mr. Kennedy asserted that this is not necessarily an example of anti-Americanism. Rather, because many Europeans "view the United States as having almost unlimited power, it’s easy to think that almost anything in the world is somehow connected with the use of it". Furthermore, the US has long been the country to which many Europeans felt the closest or towards which they had the warmest feelings. Mr. Kennedy also noted that the two sides have very different perceptions of what UN involvement in international actions means, particularly with regard to Iraq. In Europe, it connotes approval, sanction and legitimacy whereas in the US it implies allies, friends, and assistance. Thus, UN involvement in any campaign against Iraq is the most important factor for most Europeans.

Preceptions upon preceptions would be the answer I think.