Is it just me or is there something faintly ridiculous about Donald Trump taking to the pulpit to deliver lectures about the behaviour of Bashar al-Assad?

The killing of dozens of civilians in northern Syria in an apparent chemical attack by Assad’s air force certainly justifies his describing it as “an affront to humanity”.

But Trump’s critics would have it that his softly softly approach with the Syrian leader provided the latter with the cover he needed to perpetuate the attack.

In the aftermath, America has gone from turning a blind eye to rattling its sabre. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

MORE:   http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/donald-trump-syria-assad-make-up-for-his-domestic-policy-a7670376.html