Lotsa email on ARVN and the Iraqi army. I shall do a roundup later, when I’ve got a feeling for the “sense of the meeting.” Several readers recommend Lewis Sorley’s book (and look who posted the first review to Amazon…)

Perhaps I should add that I have a very small database of my own to draw on here. I spent the years 1971-73 drifting around southeast Asia, and logged several hundred hours sitting around in bars in places like Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Vientiane talking to US service personnel (in Vientiane they introduced themselves quite openly as: “I’m with the agency…”) I was in Vietnam only very briefly (June 1972) and nowhere near a war zone. I can’t honestly recall more than three or four comments about ARVN from these guys, but those comments were not good. Really, really not good.

In the meantime, here is Kingsley Amis on Enoch Powell. WARNING: Adult language. You will also need the following Britspeak glossary to hand:

barmy = crazy, borderline insane

prat = fool

The last paragraph is pure Amis. Thanks to the several kind readers who tracked this down & transmitted it to me.