Bruce Springsteen has given his support to country band the Dixie Chicks, who have faced severe criticism over a comment they made about President George Bush. The Dixie Chicks received death threats, had their records burned and were removed from radio playlists after singer Natalie Maines said she was embarrassed that Bush was from her home state of Texas. But Springsteen said the band were merely expressing their "right to free speech" and had received a "raw deal" from critics. In a message on his official website, the star said: "To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by...