Rudy Giuliani running for president, 2008

Accountable government takes responsibility for its people, provides sufficient healthcare, education and better levels of human rights. The next stage is a participatory element but that might take one or two generations.’

So is this part of the modern US role in the Middle East: the promotion of accountable government and democracy?

‘The US role in the region is precisely that. This is what America stands for. We will only act by military means if under grave threat or in self-defense, and hopefully that means very rarely.’

Oh dear lord.