INCREASINGLY the military campaign waged by US forces in Iraq has a calamitous look about it. With the notable exception of Britain, it is difficult to find a nation that is standing four square behind the American response to the upsurge in violence.

The growing hostage crisis is only serving to heighten concerns about the turn of events. So too are the casualty figures which are showing that fatalities among Iraqi civilians over the past few days are in the hundreds.

If, however, President Bush will not respond to international pressure to change tack, he may respond to domestic pressure.

Yesterday's confirmation that 70 US troops have been killed since April 1 will call into question the President's grip on the situation.

And with the presidential election only six months away, he can not afford his leadership to come under such intense scrutiny.

It is time for him to have the courage to admit that strongarm tactics are not working, and that a more considered multilateral approach is required to defuse the crisis in Iraq.

A straight bat

WE must not let the benign wicket in Antigua and England's depleted bowling attack detract from Brian Lara's achievement.

For becoming the first player in history to claim the individual record for a Test innings twice, Lara's place in sporting history is thoroughly deserved.

Such a feat not only requires natural talent, but also an immense amount of concentration, determination and fitness.

And to achieve the record at a time when people are questioning his captaincy and his playing future is a credit to his resilience.

Quite rightly, he has confirmed himself as the greatest batsmen of his generation, possibly the greatest of all time.