Senator's outburst blights US relations

IN HIS ludicrous attack on Scottish and British politicians, Senator Robert Menendez displays a combination of ignorance and arrogance that blights his country's international relations (your report, 28 July).

What makes Americans think that they have any right to interfere in the affairs of other countries, let alone "order" their leaders to appear before the kangaroo court of a Senate inquiry?

Senator Menendez's presumptuous outburst fully justifies the decision of Messrs Salmond, MacAskill and Straw to tell him, in their own diplomatic language, where to stick his "invitation".

Picking up on Steuart Campbell's theory about the link between Megrahi's release and the dropping of his appeal (Letters, 28 July), Senator Menendez might do well to consider the degree to which new evidence presented at such an appeal could have damaged American interests.

His proposed inquiry might uncover information that he will regret having revealed.

JAMES D BROWN

Burnside Road Elgin

A LITTLE little bit of history might shake the self-righteous pose of the United States Senate on the - correct - refusal of Kenny MacAskill to submit himself to its investigation, given that he is not answerable to anyone other than the Scottish Parliament and Scottish people; and certainly not a foreign government.

When the Iranians took the US embassy staff hostage, the US government took Iran to the International Court of Justice (CJ). Iran refused to attend, and the Americans denounced its refusal to answer to the court.

When the US mined the harbours of Nicaragua, that country took the US to the ICJ. The US, despite being a signatory to its statute, refused to attend and explain its blatant breach of international law.

In the light of that history, the Senate's wail about MacAskill has the sound of hypocrisy.

Does anyone believe that if BP had not polluted the Gulf of Mexico, the Senate would now be making such a song and dance about Megrahi?

JIM SILLARS

Grange Loan

Edinburgh

Steuart Campbell raises what was said to Mr Megrahi by Kenny MacAskill regarding the dropping of Megrahi's appeal. Mr MacAskill would not give Mr Megrahi advice. Mr Megrahi's solicitor was present and no doubt advised him on the legal position, and on that basis Mr Megrahi decided to abandon his appeal.

GRAEME McCORMICK

Arden

by Loch Lomond