Many people, including myself, consider Eisenhower one of the great yet underated American Presidents. He ended the Korean war, presided over eight years of peace and economic growth, and was the driver for the Interstate Highway System. Early in his watch the US Senate started the Army-McCarthy hearings which led to the downfall of Senator McCarthy. Because he came from a military background and was familiar with the tragedy of war, he did not start any military conflicts while he was President, indeed he stopped them.

And can we please get rid of the hyperbole about Australians military personnel never being in a worse position.

Some facts:
WWI: A total of 331,814 Australians were sent overseas to serve as part of the AIF, which represented 13% of the Australian male population. About 2,100 women served with the 1st AIF, mainly as nurses. 18% (61,859) of those who served in the AIF were killed or died. The casualty rate (killed or wounded) was 64%, reportedly the highest of any country which took part in World War I.

WWII: Out of more than 724,000 army personnel during World War Two, almost 400,000 served outside Australia. More than 18,000 died; 22,000 were wounded and more than 20,000 became prisoners of war.

Korea: 17,000 Australians served in Korea of whom 339 were killed.

Vietnam: 50,000 Australians served in Vietnam of whom 520 were killed.

Afganistan: In the ten year war The Australian forces in Afghanistan have suffered 32 fatalities. 213 soldiers have been wounded and the deployment in March 2011 was 1500 personnel.

Any death is a terrible waste but there is no comparison between Afganistan and the two World Wars.

Ah Catch 22, you are never far from me. Especially those who take things too seriously like the post before me.

Catch 22 was a rite of passage for me and many others of our generation but I fear it destroyed Heller as a writer.

Catch 22 was probably the most tedious book I never finished.

Great idea, dreadfully done.

Cheryl I don't think it destroyed Heller as a writer, he never was one in the first place, unless one good idea makes one a writer.