Thus on page 17 the MPs say the “conventional military defeat and elimination” of Isil “in Syria and Iraq” amounts to a “necessary goal for the UK”. In the very next sentence, the report goes on to say that Britain should not use force in Syria unless various conditions are met – and the MPs are “persuaded” the Government will not meet them. So they find themselves all in favour of eliminating Isil in Syria, but against dropping any bombs in, well, Syria. Perhaps they are also in favour of divorce within marriage.