A day in Preston Station

On a long journey through England, waiting for a train in a waiting room I saw these signs. Just proving to me that History is alive, well and still with us.

"The Gamble" by Thomas E. Ricks

In terms of quality and tone this book picks up where the previous book, 'Fiasco' left off. Ricks still ends on a pessimistic note. For example, Iraq is more likely to closely recognise Lebanon, rather than a Western democracy (p317). As such this review has little to add, and possibly the reviews should have been done at the same time. Except, Ricks add an important element to this book that could not be raised in the first; the possibility of victory. Victory did not look likely during the time of 'Fiasco'. 'The Gamble' quite literally gives victory a chance.

Ricks also convincingly argues that victory will not look and feel like the victory that Western democracies are used to seeing. 'Victory' and 'success' will be highly debateable terms in this conflict. Indeed this maybe as a direct result of the nature of the conflict. Insurgencies do not lend themselves to clear cut victories.

It is worth quoting Ricks at length in terms of his view on the likelihood of victory in Iraq:

P316 “Nor, at the end of many more years of struggle, is the outcome likely to be something Americans will recognise as victory. Instead these additional years of sacrifice promise to be made for markedly limited objectives. A senior intelligence officer in Iraq described the long term American goal as ‘a stable Iraq that is unified, at peace with its neighbours, and is able to police its internal affairs, so it isn’t a sanctuary for al Qaeda. Preferably a friend to us, but it doesn’t have to be.’ He paused then pointed noted that his list doesn’t include democracy or the observation of human rights.
That is a surprisingly common view among officials in Iraq, even if it hasn’t yet sunk in with many Americans. Few foreigners are as steeped in Iraqi issues as Emma Sky, who is now on her third tour in the country. ‘The idea that you bring democracy to Iraq and they all become secular, liberal supporters of Israel – well, there are a lot of scenarios I can imagine before that one,’ she said. ‘It’s not going to end that way.’”

P331 “Among those that still talks of an American ‘victory’ in Iraq should be asked to address this question: For many years to come, the government in Baghdad is not likely to be stable or very democratic, but almost certainly it will be closer to Tehran than Washington. What part of that constitutes success for the US government?”

The War on Drugs: it's worse than we thought

LBR was always under the impression that prohibition cost the UK £14bn a year. This figure comes from the pressure group Transform. But not according to the House of Lords. That bastion of radicalism have said the cost is actually £19bn. Every year.

Whilst Labour have elected a new leader (just announced) and the Con-Dems work on a spending review, the cost of keeping drugs illegal are not the agenda.

If you do not trust this column - then ask the House of Lords.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_lords/newsid_8735000/8735625.stm

Why Cooper Should have run: Women matter

With Ed Miliband just being announced leader of the Labour party I can't help thinking that not having a more credible woman candidate than Diane Abbott was a loss. Churlish some may say to suggest, but there you go.

It is a real shame Yvette Cooper didnt run. Intelligent and bright, she would have been a real asset. Especially if women will be at the forefront of the Con-Dem cuts.

Good luck to Ed Miliband. He will need it. But LBR urges caution. Nobody voted Tory at the last election to see a more left wing Labour party.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jul/04/women-budget-cuts-yvette-cooper

"Coma" by Alex Garland

Like his more successful book, The Beach, Coma has short, punchy chapters. No page numbers though. But that doesn’t matter as it an exceptionally short book and takes less than a day to read. The plot is well written and has some interesting illustrations. (The images clearly signify something, but I have not figured out what that is yet.)

So to the plot; Carl is in a coma after a nasty late night incident on the underground. What drives the plot is not any mystery surrounding his story or any connection to the assault which results him being in a coma. Rather it is the process through which Carl deals with being in a coma and his attempt to wake up.

Reading this novel reminds one of the Spanish film “Open your eyes” and The Jam’s song, “Down in a tube station at midnight.” Not sure Garland does anything with this story to justify the price tag of the book, especially as it is very short, but it is entertaining enough. Furthermore, Garland has the ability to make brilliant insights and write them well: to whit “Waking was the most reliable part of a dream, as built into dreams as death into life.” This book gets a generous 3/5.

"The remains of the day" by Kazou Ishiguro

A serious work about a conscientious butler looking back on his working life would not appear to set the pulse racing. Yet Ishiguro beautifully captures the voice of Mr Stevens, the protagonist, as he describes the suffocating life the butler has imposed on himself as he attempts to do his work with dignity.

In addition some of the great foreign policy events of the 20th Century are integral to the story, which gives the plot depth. Set in 1956, a year in which Britain is also forced to consider her role in the world due to the Suez crisis.

Considered by some to be a contemporary classic, the plot is less than pacy, but this reflects the suffocating atmosphere of 1950s England, and there are moments of real comedy. This book gets 3/5.