The problem that they are facing is that Americans are not quite as gullible as Charlie Brown.

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Brown wants the visits to transform the families' view of Americans, but that's not what Mahdi remembers.

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In early July I was in London, eating breakfast with Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, U.S. Ambassador Phil Lader and ten other Americans.

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Democratic candidates took part in an afternoon forum and in the traditional Iowa Brown and Black Forum, which focused attention on issues affecting African Americans and Hispanics in the state.

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Announcing the honorary knighthood for Edward Kennedy, Mr Brown said that "Northern Ireland is today at peace, more Americans have healthcare, more children around the world are going to school" because of the long-serving Democratic senator.

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Brown banquettes upholstered in what the French euphemistically call moleskin but North Americans know as leatherette line both walls of the long, narrow railroad-car-like dining room, and there's a little bar just inside the front door where your bill is tallied and taxis are called.

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Brown, an investment bank, reckons that to hold its own against the Americans, Europe can sustain only one large weapons-platform manufacturer and one defence-electronics group.

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