Bush comes face to face with Europe's distrust

George Bush flies into Berlin tonight to face an array of European allies who have grown increasingly irritated and apprehensive about his leadership.
The last time he crossed the Atlantic, he was jeered as the "toxic Texan" for his withdrawal from the Kyoto global warming accord. This time, the stakes are much higher and the chanting crowds of European demonstrators are unlikely to be so polite.

Much has changed between last July's Genoa summit and the president's return to Europe today. The US was struck a terrible blow on September 11 and Europe rallied to its side with a degree of solidarity that surprised almost everyone. But the sense of common purpose has crumbled rapidly since the beginning of the year, and now the usually tetchy transatlantic relationship has reached a critical moment.

The first loud shots have been fired in a trade war, and there are profound disagreements over US plans to oust Saddam Hussein, and over policy in the Middle East.

Europe, meanwhile, has been shocked by Washington's withdrawal from a string of treaties on global warming, missile defence and on the establishment of an international criminal court (ICC).

Mutual prejudices have rarely been stronger: American perceptions of rampant anti-Semitism in the old continent are matched by European - especially French - scorn for the death penalty and unbridled capitalism. Hostility to Europe on the American right now matches traditional anti-Americanism on the European left.