The first casualty of symbolism

I really like this image: the contrast of the photoshop-smooth black-and-white Hussein behind - and looking away from - the uncompromisingly real, color, sharply lit, slightly saggy face of al-Sahhaf. It symbolizes "front man" well, and also points up the mysterious disappearance of Hussein.

(I've heard the "Hussein made a deal with the Americans and fled to Moscow" rumour, but absent compelling new information it probably has to be considered just another rumour for the time being.)

Chicken+frog joke

Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, 2nd ed., Robert Gildea, OUP, 0-19-820625-9. An interesting read concerning material that was unfamiliar or completely new to me, but:

1. needs to be between 50% and 100% longer to do justice to the subject;
2. should have the biographical sketches of the main figures inline with the text, rather than collected at the end; and
3. could probably do with a careful look at the order things are presented - it seems to jump around rather.

I'm left feeling like I want to learn more about the 18th century (perhaps predictably); about the development of the United States; and (although I already wanted to know more about this) the Ottoman Empire.