America and its allies have always had their differences. But they tended to be geopolitical, stemming partly from the fact that the US is a world power and its allies more regional ones. But recent days have highlighted a growing gap in basic values.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, was forced to spend her week-long swing through Europe rebutting allegations about US mistreatment of terrorist suspects transferred to third countries abroad through the process know as "rendition". She did her able best and indeed appeared to shift policy by promising US personnel would eschew torture on those it holds abroad as well as at home. But her basic message to allies was "trust us". Europe's governments may but public opinion generally does not. Nearer home, the Bush administration found itself in the dock at the Montreal climate change conference. Paul Martin, the Canadian prime minister, said his message to "reticent nations, including the US, is this: there is such a thing as a global conscience and now is the time to listen to it". A lot of fingers have therefore been wagged this week at the US, which usually likes to do the wagging itself. It is likely to take exception to being arraigned in this way before a grand jury of its allies.