Karadzic’s local was called The Madhouse. In the TV pictures yesterday the bar was displaying photos of Mladic and RK, and the regulars were fervent that he was a hero, that he did nothing, killed no-one, ordered no-one to be killed. Evidence? Pah! Fixed. Conspiracy!

Note that it isn’t, He killed them and it served them right! or It was either us or them. It’s just as in the case of Kuntar’s welcome back to Lebanon. As it is every time.

1. Denial (It never happened, we don’t do wicked things.)

2. Historicising (It happened a long time ago, it wasn’t us. Not personally.)

3. Fiction (So and so has written a novel, but who’s to know what’s true, what’s fiction?)

4. Myth (It is the sort of thing that happens in the scheme of things, an archetypal pattern. It’s not real life.)

5. Justification (Those who claim to be victims are clinging somewhat unnaturally to the myth. It must serve their purposes. They are devious. No wonder people hate them.)

6. Someone like Karadzic was bound to come along and do what was necessary.

Familiar? Aways interesting to see what stage we’re at.