I often think that the dissemination of news is like a game of Chinese Whispers. Giorgia Meloni, for instance, has not condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran. Yet such esteemed exponents of the noble craft of reportage as the Times and the Daily Beast are adamant that she has. Even Meloni – President Donald Trump’s favourite EU leader and closest European ally – has turned against the American President, or so they are saying.

Proclaimed the Times: ‘Giorgia Meloni comes out against Trump’s ‘illegal’ war on Iran.’

Crowed the Daily Beast: ‘Trump humiliated as key right-wing ally slams his deadly war.’

No, as a matter of fact, no she has not. The headlines refer to a speech Meloni gave in the Italian Senate ahead of this week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels – where they have failed to come up with something relevant to say and do about Iran. But her words have undergone a transmutation worthy of the finest of alchemists.

Yes, she said attacks by America and Israel on Iran are ‘outside the scope of international law’, as are an increasing number of wars everywhere thanks to ‘the international system currently being in crisis.’ But that is hardly the same as saying the attacks on Iran are illegal. The phrase ‘outside the scope of’ means that the war is outside the law and so not subject to it.

Italy will not take part in ‘the intervention’ – said Meloni – but she did not condemn it. Furthermore, Iran cannot be allowed, she insisted, to have........

© The Spectator