We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those signposts of history that point in the direction which they themselves already favour.

The tragedy of 9/11 galvanised the American superpower into action, leaving us in Europe divided in its wake.

Diplomacy is unfashionable in the world of knee-jerk reaction and the dogmatic sound bite on television.

There is no consensus even today on the merits of Napoleon - and certainly no agreement on the rights and wrongs of the origins of the First World War.

War on Iraq runs the risk of turning the Middle East into an inexhaustible recruiting ground for anti- western terrorism.

No military timetable should compel war when a successful outcome, namely a disarmed Iraq may be feasible without war, for example by allowing more time to the UN inspectors.

If Margaret Thatcher had been Prime Minister at the time, there would have been no Treaty of Maastricht.