In defence of cynicism (BBC): “The First World War was fought with the utter trust and unquestioning support of the British people, and eight and a half million soldiers died in the four years of futile, indefensible butchery. The 2003 Iraq War was fought with less public trust than any other modern war, and about 6,000 combatants have died. Even if there are no winners in war, that arithmetic must in part suggest a small victory for cynicism.”