Military operations cannot be tidy or free of friction - particularly in a coalition whose contributing nations see the campaign through national prisms.

Nations, not least America, retain full command of their national forces.

The Russians are a very sentimental people.

Intervention continues to be a prominent dimension of the post-cold war world.

Everything starts and finishes with the soldier.

Technology's become the great prism for what's going on in the world.

Missing your lunch is not exactly the end of the world.