Mark Thomas and Rob Newman at the Warwick Arts Theatre

10.35.07am GMT Tue 13th Dec 2005

Iraq - the real reason behind the First World War?

Last night I went to the Warwick Arts Theatre with a group of friends to see Mark Thomas and Rob Newman. I had seen Mark Thomas before but not Rob Newman so was not sure what to expect, needless to say they were both excellent.

Mark Thomas came on first and managed to go through a wide range of subjects and I especially liked his joke about the arability home-pride men. Mark has also become an Arms Dealer and recently went to the big arms fair and told of his experiences there.

Rob Newham took us through why the First World War was really about the Iraq and the Berlin to Baghdad railway! This is not a version I have ever heard before, having been taken in by the Archduke Franz Ferdinand version of events. He also talked a lot about the current Iraq conflict and the causes - he is convinced that it is rooting in Iraq changing to Euros from Dollars for oil trading, a theory I have heard before and have some sympathy for.

All in all a great evening, sadly I can't remember all the jokes and stories, but I am sure some will come back to me over the next couple of days.