“Debates” over the last month triggered by events in Syria have been almost unbelievable. Not because reasonable people cannot disagree about facts, about ethical priorities, and about the efficacy of different strategic and tactical options. They can and they should. But rather because logic itself, and a commitment to seeking out empirical truth – no matter where it might lead, no matter whether it “fits” with our ideological paradigm or not – seems to have gone out the fucking window. …