Sir, Your leading article (Nov 30) got it right: the US-UK relationship remains “very special”.

The individual views aired by Kendall Myers in no way reflect the views of the US Government; his inaccurate and ill-advised statements are not a reflection of US government opinion or policy. Why he chose to air these views in a public forum is a question only he can answer.

What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that the US-UK relationship, now nearly two centuries strong, is extremely important to the United States. The US-UK relationship, forged in the ashes of our war for independence in the 18th century, has withstood the most trying detours of history, including our own civil war, the First and Second World Wars and, in the 21st century, the deadly dilemma of global terrorism.

United by a love of liberty and the rule of law, the United States and the United Kingdom have valued each other as partners in addressing the problems of our times: disease, disaster, poverty, and oppression. The close ties between our two governments have, for nearly 200 years, been reflected in the close and enduring ties between the British and American people. The American Administration and the American people realise that they have no better friend in the world than the British people: these ties will not be weakened by the careless remarks of a single individual.

ROBERT H. TUTTLE

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