Some calm and intelligence courtesy of the wonderful world of diplomacy:

Witnesses told the British newspaper they heard [U.K.] diplomat Rowan Laxton shouting “f**king Israelis, f**king Jews” while watching a TV report of Israel Defense Forces operations in Gaza from the seat of an exercise bike.

He also reportedly shouted that IDF soldiers should be “wiped off the face of the Earth.”

Unable to restrain his diplomatic fervor, Laxton continued cursing Israel and Jews even after he was approached by other gym-goers. He was subsequently arrested and charged with “inciting religious hatred.” Laxton, who is married to a Muslim woman, is head of the South Asia Group at the Foreign office.

One of the drawbacks of true diplomatic multilateralism is that you’re only as good as your weakest ally. England is our strongest ally. From the hateful lunacy emanating out of Tehran to the blunt indifference of the Kremlin to the recreational anti-Semitism of withering Britain, we’re getting a good look at the ugly face behind the placid mask of diplomacy.  I, for one, think they should let Laxton free. If this is the class of “ally” we’re going to be dealing with for the next four years, I’d rather such people not be afraid to declare their true convictions. The sooner the game is up, the sooner we can return to being serious about peace, diplomacy, America, and the Middle East.