One of the best rules for life is “don’t get involved in other people’s arguments”. So what does our government want to do? It pushes and pushes to arm part of one of the sides in Syria’s internecine strife. It’s not exactly as if they are sure where these weapons will end up or if they are protecting a UK interest or even if it is our business to do anything beyond humanitarian aid.

I spent the holiday weekend scratching my head on this one. The answer is either because Whitehall is stuck in the Imperial Colonial mindset or more likely that by sending in arms we can boost our defence industry in the face of cuts and uncertainty elsewhere. After all, oversea aid has been ringfenced and no doubt that is where the money for the bullets will come from.

Do the words “Iraq” and “Aghanistan” ring familiar?