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Letters

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, 17th October 2007

Mr Bolchover compounds this error by saying that I blame the Israel lobby for the second invasion of Iraq. I don’t and indeed I criticised the authors for stating this: ‘The authors’ chapter on how the lobby and its sympathisers inside the defence department and in the White House propelled the US to attack Iraq the second time is powerful but fails to consider that the US, during the last 50 years, has intervened all over the world for many reasons. After 9/11 in particular, revenge was a big justification for going after Saddam, although he had nothing to do with the assault on the Trade Towers. As Thomas Ricks shows in Fiasco, Saddam was regarded as a pushover whose quick defeat would demonstrate American resolve.’

I suspect that, like many critics of this book, which has its faults, Mr Bolchover hasn’t read it and, additionally, he has misread me.

Jonathan Mirsky
London W11

Aid for the tsunami

Sir: Contrary to Michael Howard’s claim (‘Lessons of the tsunami the world forgot’, 6 October) that the EU reacted slowly to the Solomon Islands tsunami crisis, European Commission personnel were dispatched to the area the very day disaster struck. On the basis of their assessment, we gave an immediate green light for E550,000 in emergency humanitarian aid to be channelled through Save the Children UK (implemented by their Australian arm) and the French Red Cross. We verified the use the funds were put to and concur on the excellence of the NGOs’ work.

Speed being of the essence, the Commission’s humanitarian aid is never delivered through governments. Fast-track financial procedures ensure funds are available within 48 hours. In the case of long-term development aid, the international consensus is that it should be delivered through governments, where possible, to improve ownership and help build local institutions. In the Solomon Islands, donors work together with the government to see how the distribution of aid can be improved. EU funds are being used to reconstruct roads and bridges (in partnership with the Asian Development Bank) and schools (to be implemented by Unicef). Unlike humanitarian aid, these operations are not life-saving but life-improving, and rely on careful planning for their success.

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Bryan Stokes

March 11th, 2008 5:03am

Paul Johnson's 'Ten Perfect Poems ...' (1March, '08, page 25) is a very stimulating contribution to modern literature. What weekly magazine, apart from yours and perhaps the Atlantic Monthly, would devote so much space and money to such a frivilous essay? I appreciate that,as Mr Johnson states, every selection of short English poems is subjective & personal, but how eclectic and idiosycratic of him to choose thus. It speaks volumes for both his formal and subsequent self-education. I'd never heard of Francis Thompson and so thoroughly enjoyed 'At Lords' once I'd googled it and printed it off, as I did all those mentioned and selected, thanks to the marvels of the internet. Mr. Johnson surely is a true polymath along with James & Rushdie. Here in Perth West Australia, at the antipodes, we feel a little cut off from London's literary life, but thanks to the Johnsons and your other fine columnists (especially 'Ancient & Modern's Peter James) civilization seems a little closer, remebering Singapore & Sydney are 4 hours away by plane. I thoroughly enjoy your magazine (Joan Collins' Oscar notes were amusing as was Rod Liddle's take on Boris' mayoral antics. Thanks for everything - a real joy!