I wonder if our 'conservative' friends would accept an eyewitness report from some nice, middle-class Britons about their experiences in-- and getting out of-- New Orleans:

Mr Scott said: "The American people were fantastic, they couldn't do enough for us. I wish I could say the same for the American authorities.

"We had 72 Army ration packs for 40 people for five days.

"We had to break into all the vending machines in the hotel and we got all the snacks out of those.

"I have nothing but contempt for the American authorities. The only person who seems to be trying to do anything is the Mayor of New Orleans and that man is banging his head against a brick wall."

Such strident anti-Americanism!