A US Vietnam veteran has saved and published the poignant diaries of a young doctor shot by US troops in 1967 whilst fighting to protect her wounded patients. "I know that an Iraqi mother will one day be in the same position as Mother Dang. Why are we in Iraq? I don't know. You can't know the vulgarity of war until you've been there, until you've been splattered with your friend's blood," he concludes.

Thanks to Political Hack for this. How refreshing to note that if you phone the Social Services Out-of-hours helpline your call will be dealt with by a telephonist outsourced to 'Facilities Management' company Vertex. As he says: "If you are a member of the Council Cabinet, you may now wash your hands."