THE US believes it has a God-given right to dominate the world politically, economically, and to enforce its will by using military power if necessary.

It also believes it has the right to summon anyone from anywhere in the world to appear before its Senate committees to answer questions, like disobedient children, before a worldwide television audience.

BP chief executive Tony Hayward’s recent appearance before a Senate committee, to answer questions about his handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, begs the question that if an American oil company was responsible for polluting the British coast would its executives be willing to appear before a House of Commons select committee to answer questions?

When are they going to understand that the US is not at the centre of the universe?

Keith Dewison, Billingham.