Worse still, the US has refused to announce whether it will use its Security Council veto to block a referral of Israel's military and political leaders to the International Criminal Court.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Waging diplomatic war

It said alleged war crimes - a subject of regular international censure - were being looked into by a special military court.

BBC: Shirani Bandaranayake: Sri Lanka MPs' impeachment bid

Lord Goldsmith warned that "there are a number of ways in which opponents of military action might seek to bring a legal case, internationally or domestically, against the UK, members of the government, or UK military personnel, " for example in the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.

BBC: British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith