Saturday, June 19, 2010

Nye Bevan Quote on The Con-Dem Nation of 1930s

I found this quote in Michael Foot's biography of Aneurin Bevan. It's on p167 of the Paladin Books, 1975 edition, Volume 1 (1897-1945):

"He mocked the Liberals who helped to present the facade of national unity by joining the Government and prophesied their fate: 'the Liberals will be kicked out into the political wilderness and no man will want to know whether they have anything to eat or drink or wear; the job will be done and Great Britain will be handed over to the most reactionary Conservative Government of modern times.'"

I don't know why but that quote just seemed appropriate.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Churchill on Afghanistan

I have just started reading Carlo D'Este's book: 'Warlord: The Fighting Life of Winston Churchill From Soldier to Statesman'. On page seventy-eight D'Este quotes from a letter from Churchill to his grandmother. The year is 1897, Churchill has been fighting in Afghanistan as part of Sir Bindon Blood's Malakand Field Force. It is worth quoting:

"I wish I could come to the conclusion that all this barbarity - all these losses - all this expenditure - had resulted in a permenent settlement being obtained, I do not think however that anything has been done - that will not have to be done again."

Written in 1897 I suspect Churchill might be disappointed to learn how correct he was. A lot of blood has been spilt and money has been spent since 1897 reinforcing Churchill's doubts.