In his letter entitled The message from above (TMID 26 January) Mr Michael Alexander delivered some rather one-sided criticism of the United States. I have no difficulty with such anti-American rants; they tell more about the writer than about the country they detest.

However, I do have difficulty with fictitious quotations. Mr Alexander claims that “now we all have heard it, loud and clear” that in his recent inaugural address President Bush said that “we have received a message from way above the stars... that we are to spread freedom in our world.”

But that speech contained no such statement, as anyone with access to the internet can verify. Criticism of American policy and politicians should not have to rely on counterfeit evidence.

John Lane

Buffalo, NY