I AM a frequent visitor to your online newspaper and would like to personally and publicly thanks Jack Straw and Tony Blair's administration for their support of the US and our troops in the Middle East.

I appreciate the support and leadership Jack Straw has shown, as a friend to the US.

I understand in political terms people can disagree, but I, as an American, am grateful and with the memory of September 11, 2001 so fresh wanted to let you know.

ELISE ADAMS OVERMIRE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.