Marching to beat of same drum

PRESIDENT George W Bush became the fifth US President to visit Ireland when he arrived into Shannon Airport last night.

His 18-hour visit has aroused huge controversy and has prompted one of the country's most elaborate security operations ever.

Air Force One touched down in the Co Clare airport shortly before 8pm last night. Mr Bush and his wife, Laura, disembarked shortly afterwards to be formally welcomed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen.

Mr Bush was also accompanied by Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. A massive ring of security, including a large number of US secret service agents, surrounded the plane as Mr and Mrs Bush stepped onto the runway. The US ambassador, James C Kenny, was also in the welcoming party.

After a formal exchange of greetings, the Bushes were whisked off in a bullet, bomb and nuclear-proof car to travel the 13km to Dromoland Castle. The heavily guarded motorcade arrived some 20 minutes later where Mr Bush was greeted by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The party then had a private supper.

Mr Bush's arrival came at the end of a day of nationwide protests and amid a huge security operation involving 4,000 gardaí and some 2,000 heavily armed soldiers that sealed off both Shannon and Dromoland.

More than 15,000 people turned out for a protest rally in Dublin last night.

However, the numbers expected for the main protest march in Shannon did not materialise. About 800 protesters marched to the perimeter of the airport last night where they were stopped by gardaí. The incident passed off peaceably, though earlier in the day three activists, including prominent anti-war campaigner Edward Horgan, were arrested after launching an inflatable dinghy onto the Shannon Estuary.

Speaking in Dromoland shortly before Mr Bush's arrival, Mr Ahern downplayed the raising of direct criticism of US foreign policy during today's two hour EU-US Summit.

He said he was more anxious to raise the 'seven important measures' that will be on the agenda for the summit today and on which the EU and US are seeking agreement.

The agenda will include discussions on the Iraqi situation, as well as a declaration of support for the Iraqi people. The meeting will also focus on the broader Middle East situation, counter-terrorism, measures to prevent the proliferation of WMD and strategies to combat the HIV-Aids problems.

Mr Ahern last night defended the position Ireland adopted on the invasion of Iraq: "From our perspective, we would have always liked to see the UN resolution adhered to. That was the Irish position.

"We stuck with that to the very last day. We did not take part, would never accept that we took part in the Coalition forces," he insisted.

The visit has been criticised by Mr Bush's political detractors in both Ireland and the US as an extended 'courtesy call' designed to appeal to Irish-American voters during an election year. Last night, however, Mr Ahern restated the importance of securing agreement on the seven important issues that will be discussed at the summit.

This morning, Mr Bush will make a courtesy call on President Mary McAleese before attending a bilateral US-Irish meeting with Mr Ahern, scheduled to last for an hour. It will be followed by the two-hour EU-US summit which will finish at around lunchtime.

The president and his entourage will depart Shannon Airport at 2.30pm and will travel to Turkey for the NATO summit.

More protests are expected in Co Clare this morning, including a march from Ennis to Lahuna Bridge, about one kilometre from the perimeter of Dromoland Castle.

Last night, with Mr Bush in situ at Dromoland, thousands of gardaí and army personnel, with backup tank and artillery support, secured a wide area surrounding the castle. Many roads in the vicinity, including the main Limerick to Ennis road, will remain closed off to the public until Mr Bush departs.