Matt Buck's Hack Cartoons

The benefits of talking

But I wonder how likely they are to release their influence in Baghdad? Yup, not very.

I don't draw gag cartoons very much - as one of my professional colleagues kindly put it, you've never been funny - he may well be right.

The drawing here was an attempt to 'make humour', which unusually, I did actually submit to a magazine. I'm told the editor said it was too political. It was about the time everybody was very worried about enriched uranium in Iran.

The 'Get Gordon' campaign continues. The Tories appear to believe that David Cameron will stand a better chance of victory at the next election against David Miliband and are busy encouraging Labour to try and self-destruct completely by encouraging him to run against the chancellor.



The Labour party seem to be torn between a fear of Brown and desperation to be somewhere, anywhere, beyond Blair.

Elsewhere, I believe Mong Campbell has recently acquired a new pair of slippers for the local election campaign.

I hesitate to describe the situation with Iran as light relief, because it certainly isn't for the 15 navy personnel, but if you try to see it in the context of the arguments over Iranian nuclear ambitions, the major war going on next door in Iraq and the fag end of George Bush's presidency, you begin to see how complex the situation is.

A marvellous piece of news (or lack of it) photography from Nick Danziger. The article published by The Guardian.

Photograph

You may see some interpretations of the consequences of our actions at

Birds of War

I made myself rewatch the classic movie Oh, what a lovely War last night.

This is an ageing but brilliant representation of a stage musical about world war one. If you haven't seen it, I cannot recommend it too highly.

About it

Acquire it

Part of the reason for rewatching, apart from the sheer pleasure of it, was in comparing key parts of it to what George Bush said in his much-reported speech this week.

I quote the President here:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time.
On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life.
In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy - by advancing liberty across a troubled region.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To me, this sort of level of self-delusion is similar to the 'it'll all be over by christmas' attitude with which our descendents entered world war one.

The full speech is here

Enjoy the film - and the lesssons it leaves.

Global reaction to the President's speech.
Feedback on the Bush speech

When miserable news events coincide.

PM lectures Iran (again)

Ipswich