International diplomacy isn't always a pretty thing. From time to time the delicate phraseology and finely nuanced language are swept away in the heat of the moment, and unutterable truths are uttered.

So it was early Saturday morning, in the stifling humidity of the rainy season in Bali.

After three full days and nights of negotiations, the 180 countries that make up the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change had finally arrived at a text that seemed to be acceptable to all.

The developing nations had reluctantly accepted language that will impel them to consider taking more drastic action to fight global warming, while at the same time trying to grow their economies.

Developed countries, including the US, had accepted the need for them to make "measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments or actions, including quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives."

Delegates drifted into the conference hall at the Bali International Convention Centre and prepared for the final vote of the two-week conference, on the most important matter of all.

But before the vote could be taken, the US delegation couldn't resist one more dig at a process it has always disliked.

"I have to say that the formulation that has been put forward, we cannot accept," said Paula Dobriansky, under-secretary of state for diplomacy and global affairs. Any words that she may have wanted to add were drowned in a chorus of boos and jeers from, essentially, the rest of the world.

Several countries interjected to attempt to persuade the US delegation to change its mind.

But it took the ambassador for climate change from Papua New Guinea, a non-diplomat named Kevin Conrad whose full-time job is executive director of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, to sweep away the diplomatic niceties and tell the US what everyone was really thinking.

"There's an old saying: if you're not willing to lead, then get out of the way," Conrad said. "We ask for your leadership, we seek your leadership; but if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us: please, get out of the way."

With the cheers for that speech ringing in her ears, Dobriansky realized that the US had overplayed its hand, and immediately withdrew the US' opposition to the text.

The Bush administration has made no secret of its opposition to the global climate change process. But facing increasing concern at home, as well as concrete actions by many states to cap their greenhouse gas emissions, the White House has realized it cannot afford to be seen to be the country that held up the process.

So it came as close as it dared to wrecking the Bali talks, and paid the price in being publicly shamed by a country that ranks some 120 places below it in most metrics.

The Bush administration has one more chance to engage with the world on climate change, next December in Poland. After that, a new President will be in charge, and most people who were in Bali last week believe the next US leader won't need to be exposed to the same undiplomatic language before taking on a more constructive role.

However, as one Mexican delegate put it: "The mother of all battles will be in 2009," he said. "This is just a warm-up."