The most grovelling apologies from American officials in recent days are said (by those who have received them) to concern not gibes at personalities, but dirty tricks conducted in friendly countries.

近日来，让美国最抬不起头的道歉据说（根据那些接受道歉的人所说）不是关于那些对名人的嘲讽，而是他们对友国们使出的卑鄙伎俩。