Beirut

September 2006

While Blair was in Beirut Radio 4 said "the Prime Minister pledged his full support for the reconstruction of Lebanon".

A month earlier, of course, the Prime Minister pledged Washington his full support for the destruction of Lebanon.

To the Lebanese he must have looked like a fugue-state schizo who beats you up and then appears to have no knowledge of it. All smiles, when the fit has passed, he asks what happened to your face, and whether you fancy popping out for lunch.