This catalogue of policy errors means that Britain and America must carry their share of the blame for the situation in Syria – not least the terrible humanitarian catastrophe unfolding this winter. The Prince of Wales eloquently points out on this page that terrible things are happening to Christians in the Middle East. The FCO must bear some of the blame for that too, especially since Assad had been their protector. Meanwhile, all attempts to investigate the consequences of its incompetence – especially by the Chilcot Inquiry on Iraq – are being blocked. That’s not good enough. Something has gone wrong, and it must be dealt with.