The other day I was quietly listening to one expert and then another about the appalling civil war going on in Syria.

The opposition consisted of fragmented groups who, if they were not fighting the government of Syria, would be fighting one another. They are united in a common hatred of the US and Britain.

God forbid that they ever get control of weapons of mass destruction as they would not hesitate to use them against the West.

A very old saying keeps running through my head, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Is our Government backing the wrong side?

Mr F Kleiner, address supplied