World View

Imagine for a moment that all the wars of the world have come to a peaceful conclusion. Most violent crime against people and property has also been eradicated.

Keeping a file of random clippings is an old-fashioned thing to do, but sometimes it offers you unexpected connections. Sometimes it's a connection that you don't even want to see.

The first time Nawaz Sharif became prime minister of Pakistan was almost 25 years ago. His second term was ended 14 years ago by a military coup that drove him into exile.

After making two major air strikes in and near Damascus in three days, Israel informed the Assad regime on Tuesday it was not taking sides in the Syrian civil war. But of course it is.

John Bellinger is the last person in Washington you'd expect to criticise President Barack Obama for making too many drone strikes.

Of course human beings have always fought wars. Of course a quarter of the adult males in the typical primitive society died violently, in wars and in fights.

There are, we are told, only two options.