W SAVAGE is wrong to say that the special relationship, between the UK and the USA, has nothing to do with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Review, March 2)

Is he or she saying, that the loss of British lives in these wars, was not worthy of being part of a special relationship and only American troops lost in the Second World War should count?

I would think that the families of loved ones lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, would be devastated to hear that, their loss does not matter.

Tony Blair was forever using the term ‘special relationship’ when trying to gain support for the wars in the Middle East.

He actually stood up in Parliament and said that we should assist the Americans, “because our special relationship demands it.”

W Savage points out the heavy price that American troops paid in the Normandy landings and so they did, but this should not carry any more weight, in forming the special relationship, if there is one, than our servicemen and women, lost in the Middle East conflicts.

Furthermore, in 1939 the US stood by and allowed the UK to defend the free world alone for three years, the Americans only joining the fight after being invaded themselves by the Japanese at Pearl Harbour.

The Americans were not alone among our allies in suffering appalling casualties in World War Two.

It is estimated that Russia lost 8.7 million soldiers on the Eastern front in the fight against Hitler, more than all the other allies added together. 

If a special relationship is to be built on blood and loss as W Savage would have it, then why do we not have a special relationship with Russia?

In my previous letter, I was attempting to point out that in his drive to make America great again, Donald Trump will put his country first irrespective of the so called ‘special relationship’ as all previous presidents have done in the past.

Therefore, Teresa May should not rely too heavily on the Americans for our future.

Over the next few years we will see just how much the ‘special relationship’ means to Mr. Trump.

Please Mrs May, don’t hold your breath.

– P Young, Chepstow.