Accusations have been made that the United States is using torture against unidentified suspects held as part of its ?war on terrorism?. Either it tortures them itself, perhaps at secret detention centres, or it passes them on ? ?renders? them in the jargon ? to countries whose security services do use torture, such as Egypt. Rumours are circulating that the CIA moves suspects around for the purposes of this rendition using unmarked aircraft, some of which are known to land frequently at airports in Europe and elsewhere. The American Government, most recently and comprehensively through its Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has categorically denied any illegality, though she defended the practice of rendition itself as a ?useful weapon?. In the absence of firm evidence to the contrary, governments around the world that have been worried by the allegations, including the British, have little choice but to take these denials at face value. Tony Blair did as much in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Nevertheless the issue has already done further damage to America?s standing overseas. It is right to accept that combating organised international terrorism poses unprecedented challenges to the security services of all the countries affected. But the United States Government has deliberately deprived itself of the most effective way of refuting any rumours and allegations about its conduct towards terrorist suspects, namely allowing suspects access to lawyers and the courts. It claimed that its prisoners in Guant?namo Bay were outside the protection of the law, both American and international; and the same applies to terrorist suspects in United States custody elsewhere. Hence when Miss Rice says her Government is doing nothing unlawful, she may be saying nothing more than that the law does not cover such cases ? where there are no rules, they can hardly be broken.

In any event, leaks from sources close to the CIA suggest that the agency has hit upon a disingenuous ...