As a Brit married to an American I am torn between the politics of the current situation and the needs of individual identity.

Firstly, the US has a very aggressive and ill-conceived foreign policy in my opinion and it disgusts me that the British and the Aus PMs have poodled along with it. Though I see the need for security the Iraq invasion had nothing to do with WMD and alot to do with OIL.

ON a personal level I like to be British and I am sure my wife is proud to be American though when we travel I am Welsh and my wife uses here Irish passport why?

Well I am not proud of what the flag (Union Jack or Stars & Stripes) means at the momentto most of the people we meet in Europe and Africa. It means greed, wealth and aggression. so we dont wear our flags, as badges of honour.

I am a little taken aback when people claim that a governments country is not the fualt of its people with the US and UK enforcing democracy on the world, and us electing them in the us with a real 50% of the vote of course our countries are representative of our people.

Its just that the people who vote these people into power tend to not be interseted in travel adventure and understanding other people and cultures.

My advice is take off the flags (of any nation) and travel quietly and respectfully, though I would hope you would have very little problem in Africa.

Good luck my friend and travel lightly on this earth

Charlie