Bertie bows to people's will

FUNNY how 100,000 people can change your mind — especially if you’re a Taoiseach out of step with the march of the nation.

Compare, for a moment, Bertie Ahern's views on a unilateral US war against Iraq before and after opinion polls showed support for the Taoiseach at its lowest point since 1997.

Here's what Mr Ahern said on January 29 as he tried desperately to avoid aligning himself with either Europe or the US.