Islamic State is mainly a direct result of the failure in Syria. That's where IS has grown. That's where IS spread from.

I'm constantly asking for alternative views on most things that come to me.

It's hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself and secure the surrender of Saddam's security forces and his army. Hard to imagine.

I think it's a mistake to rely too much on any one economic factor. It's why investors try to spread their portfolio round.

People seem to forget that Saddam was the only leader in the world who praised the attacks of 9/11 as a good thing.

I like globalization; I want to say it works, but it is hard to say that when six hundred million people are slipping backwards.

Islamic State is mainly a direct result of the failure in Syria. That's where IS has grown. That's where IS spread from.