War Graves
The desecration of British war graves in Libya came right out of the blue - and must have been a real shock to the relatives of the soldiers buried there.
The motive for the attack is unclear - but it seems highly likely that this was the work of religious zealots - keen to cause trouble between Muslims and non-Muslims.
But I'm sure it offended many non-believers as well - such as me.
Because one of the most peaceful and tranquil places I've ever visited is the American War Cemetery in Normandy - the one where the final scenes from the film Saving Private Ryan were shot.
Even to people with no religious faith these sites command respect and dignity - for those that fought to free the world from fascism during the second world war.
So it's heartening to hear that the British authorities will repair the damage and that the Libyan government has apologised - and pledged to catch those responsible.
Some say that the attacks were carried out by Islamist militants in retaliation for the burning of the Koran - by US soldiers at a military base in Afghanistan last month.
If so it just goes to show that fundamentalist beliefs drive people mad.
Because there is no connection between the two events - and no justification for deliberately vandalising the ground on which these men were laid to rest.
