NOT a blood and bullets approach to the conflict that cost 18 million lives but rather an examination of the causes of the war, the way it was fought and the consequences of victory.

For triumph in the "war to end all wars" merely led to another world blood-letting, and Howard is keen to point out how the military and the politicians should walk hand-in-hand if the victory is not to prove a false one.

The position in Iraq cant help but spring to mind.