The Press American Interest/London Review of Books

Recently I have been in essay mode when it comes to my reading material. I picked up a new magazine called American Interest. It is a little like the Harvard Business Review in format but its topics are from a far wider subject area. I have also been reading the London Review of Books the last few weeks. Its personals are far funnier than those I have seen in the New York Review of Books. There may be a play in London based on an advert in the New York Review of Books... it would seem to me it should be based on those from the London Review of books..... much more entertaining.
There was recently in LRB a wonderful piece on Iraq and in particular the funds for reconstruction. Leaving some kind of infrastructural improvements should be the very minimum that can be provided to the Iraqis, judging by this article however, it would seem they are being let down as most of the funds for reconstruction have already been spent with very little to show.

There are two ways of looking at a war. The first discussion point is the moral reason for engaging in a conflict, the second is how you win a war and the peace. Regarding the second point the fact that the US and British governments engaged on two fronts in two very difficult environments and countries is mind boggling. It seems like military and political suicide. I wonder whether we will ever find out why. I think the first thing any politician should do before he engages in an ambitious foreign agenda is sit down with five esteemed historians, individually, and have a history lesson....surely they would both have then followed a different path.

The American Interest had an article written by Martin Wolf of the Financial Times, regarding the imbalances afflicting the world financial system and in particular the US trade deficit. 75% of excess world exports are being taken by the US. This is a phenomenal sum and obviously leading to an enormous US global IOU. This has to change and can it change without significant dislocation is one of the most pressing questions of the next twenty years. Severe economic problems as we all know puts society under significant pressure and can lead to international conflict and distasteful regimes gaining power.

Interestingly he also touched on the detail that has had little coverage which is China could actually use the IOU as leverage over the US and its policies. The Americans did this with the French and British at the time of the Suez crisis, now that would be a twist...

It is a truly excellent piece of journalism.