I wouldn't have thought it true that Americans don't know what the United Kingdom was. All the American software I have seen has "UK" when you have to select your country .. rather than "England" or "Great Britain". Now .. when it comes to the EU ... you can't blame anyone for not knowing its boundaries. I would imagine that Mr Howells was probably quoting the results of some survey taken in the US. I doubt that he was making it up .. or intending to insult anyone.