(S (S (NP (BASENP (NNP Mr) (NNP Howard)) (PRN (COMMA ,) (VP (VBN considered) (NP (BASENP (DT a) (JJ close) (NN ally)) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ United) (JJ States) (NN government))))) (COMMA ,))) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN faced) (NP (BASENP (NNS attacks) (CC and) (NN support)) (PP (IN from) (BASENP (JJ US) (NNS politicians))))))) (PERIOD .))