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The former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban argued that American torture of prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison “shook the moral foundations” of the coalition’s occupation. So it did. Rumsfeld has exasperated America’s allies. But even so, to alienate America is short-sighted and risky. Blair is one of the few European statesmen who recognises that, and he deserves credit for it.

I often criticise Blair for lacking any interest in history. In this case, maybe it is an advantage. Many Europeans’ view of Afghanistan or Iraq is distorted by post-colonial guilt. Blair, on the other hand, has an uncluttered sympathy for the view that democracy is good for people and should be spooned down their throats.

Europeans’ interest in the spread of democracy tends to be limited to their own continent, narrowly defined at that. Schröder, for example, seems relaxed that Vladimir Putin is centralising power in Russia, and from there it would be a short step to acquiescing in Russian hegemony in Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine, where the presidential election is being rerun today. America cannot be so detached. Sooner or later it will need to re-engage with developments in that region, mainly because the US is rightly obsessed (on behalf of us all) about the security of energy supplies.

It is important that European Atlanticists gain the upper hand once more. Unfortunately, Blair lost influence during 2004. Our partners deny Britain a leadership role because we do not have to share the burden of the euro. The prospect of joining the currency has receded, and it is likely that Britain’s referendum on the European constitution will be lost. The new Europe that Blair hoped to lead has disintegrated.

He might try another tack. Perhaps America and Europe would find it slightly easier to come together over trade than politics. The US has made liberalising treaties with its North American neighbours despite the obvious political difficulties. We could work for a special north Atlantic trade zone.

The key figure would be (do not laugh) Peter Mandelson. The early days of 2005 will be crucial for him. If he is to have any credibility in Europe he must keep Blair at bay whenever he rings up for advice about the British general election, and he must give up taking public swipes at Gordon Brown. If Mandelson can restrain himself, he could do some serious good for transatlantic relations.

One ray shone through the European darkness in recent days. Joschka Fischer, the German foreign minister, backed Turkish membership of the European Union. That took political courage, because most Germans oppose it strongly. Turkish immigrants in Germany encounter racial prejudice and have difficulties in obtaining German nationality. For many Germans Turkish entry into the EU means only one thing: more migrants.

They do not see that Europe is lucky that Turkey is what it is. A neighbouring country with a large Muslim population that happens to be secular and pluralist. Fortuitously, it is pro-western, as evidenced by decades as a member of Nato. It would be irresponsible to put those advantages at risk by blackballing Turkey.

Europe regularly shows that its horizons have narrowed. It has become self-obsessed and has ceased to think strategically. Germany’s failure to live up to its responsibilities has been particularly disappointing. So there must be rejoicing when its foreign minister defies public opinion to make the strategic case for embracing Turkey. It almost makes me hopeful.