G8 summit: Cameron has misjudged by putting Syria on the agenda Discussing Syria is likely to result in discord between Russia and the west which could sour the atmosphere of the summit

British prime minister David Cameron and Russian president Vladimir Putin in London ahead of the G8 summit. Photograph: Aleksey Nikolskyi/Pool/EPA

For once a G8 summit has a good idea on the table. David Cameron's call for today's Ulster meeting to agree action against tax havens is original, sensible and needs international concord to push it through. Success would be a real triumph for him. A treaty will take time, but it is good to start now.
So why spoil it with Syria? Syria is a racing certainty to result in discord. It is bound to lead the west and Russia to squabble with each other. Disagreement has already erupted, even within the west's camp. Worst of all, Syria could only sour the atmosphere at the summit itself and reduce the chance of agreement elsewhere.
For Cameron to put Syria on the agenda was a sure-fire own goal. Russia's Vladimir Putin even did him the courtesy of passing through Downing Street yesterday to tell him so. Russia might be at blame for supporting Assad, an old and disreputable ally, in his time of need. But to Putin, Britain and America were supporting a bunch of rebellious – even cannibalistic – fanatics. As for America, Barack Obama has enough trouble with his tub-thumping arms suppliers back home without having Cameron screeching on about war.

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