Full metal racket

The Observer carries an extract from the new book by award-winning Observer reporter and Middle East expert Jason Burke. He concludes as follows: I spent many months in Iraq after the war. Oddly, I was always more optimistic about the country's future when I was there than in London. Western news bulletins were dominated by those making the most noise or mess, and the voices of the majority in Iraq, who wanted only to eat and sleep in peace with their families, were barely heard. This was true on a global scale too. In Iraq, the violence was aimed at dividing communities. Spectacular acts of international terrorism aimed to do the same. To an extent, sadly, they have succeeded. In the short term at least, brutality can work. But the dogmatic, the fanatic and the violent are still a long way from outright victory.

Extracted from 'On the Road to Kandahar' by Jason Burke, published by Allen Lane on 25 May, £20. To order a copy for £18 with free UK p&p go to observer.co.uk/bookshop or call 0870 836 0885