American envoys travel to the Middle East these days with a simple message. Whatever happens in Iraq – and Washington is not about to admit defeat – the US fully intends to remain the regional superpower. Their hosts listen politely and shrug their shoulders with knowing scepticism.

I saw something of this earlier in the week at the Herzliya conference in Israel. The nominated envoy was Nicholas Burns, a senior official at the US state department. His audience was the Israeli political, security and foreign policy establishment.