IN the early 1970s I remember taking the family to an open day at Woodbridge Air Force base in Suffolk.

The day was organised by the United States Air Force, more commonly known as USAAF from the days when the American air force was a part of the army of that country. On this particular day we were to have the pleasure of a display by the Blue Angels, an aerobatic team of four F4 Phantom Jets of the US navy.

As the display ended a young man immediately in front of our family was heard to pronounce "Well they're good but not as good as the Red Arrows!", whereupon a tall USAAF colonel standing at the back of the crowd loudly announced for all to hear, "Hey, buddy, we came her to defend you, not entertain you!"

Sadly, this patronising attitude comes through loud and clear to this day and more recent events clearly show that it is time to end our so called ''special relationship'' with the United States.

The United Kingdom is a part of the European Union and should start making every effort to consolidate its membership of this great initiative and help to give the guidance necessary for the Union to survive and become a major force for good in the world otherwise domination by the US will be complete. It is time the US started to understand that any special relationship should exist between equals, which is certainly not evidenced by newly elected George W Bush insisting that the NATO Secretary General visit him in Washington where it was made very clear to Lord Robertson that any European Rapid Reaction Force or 'Euro Army' should only exist under the aegis of NATO.

While there will be many arguments and discussions in future years regarding the survival of planet Earth and its many populations it almost goes without saying that we can do without a megalomaniac United States which believes only in the power of the gun and global privatisation.

We must contribute to the rapid reaction force currently proposed by our partners despite the reservations expressed by the US who are only concerned that NATO will be weakened and that they, the US, will have far less influence over European affairs.

During the recent presidential election in the US, Al Gore stated that the "United States of America is the greatest country that there has ever been and always will be!".

Well Buddy, here's one person that disagrees.

BRIAN REGIMBEAU, Albion Road, Malvern.