Ex-prez meets future prez? Is that so nutty?

WARNING: this picture may contain nuts.

Peanuts that is — as former US president Jimmy Carter is known to always carry a packet around with him.

But the media was unable to ask the ex-most-powerful-man-in-the-world-now- turned-peace-mentor in person at Government Buildings as host Bertie Ahern did not want any pesky journalists ruining a safe photo-op (again).

Perhaps it was understandable timidity given Mr Carter’s vocal denouncement of British PM Tony Blair’s obsequious backing for the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Or maybe it was just Bertie’s good deed of the day to his new coalition partners in order to save their post Tara-bulldozing blushes, as it would have looked even dodgier for them if the man the Iranians first dubbed the “Great Satan” of US imperialism kicked up more of a stink about Shannon than they did in their Programme for Government negotiations.

It may be 27 years since the Tehran hostage crisis swept him from power, but Mr Carter can still sweep through downtown Dublin traffic in impressive form.

If they were trying to keep the former president’s visit to Government Buildings low key, the seven-vehicle motorcade, including two blacked-out A-Team-style vans and four police outriders, probably was not the most subtle move.

Let’s hope it does not give newly elevated ministers John Gormley and Eamon Ryan ideas above their pedal-power stations if they witnessed this particular star-spangled circus on wheels.

The blacked-out trucks were no doubt packed with CIA operatives who, incidentally, have pithy one word code-names for all their charges.

Mr Carter is known as “Deacon” due to his past as a Sunday school teacher, Bill Clinton is “Eagle”, up and coming left-field Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is “Renegade” and ex-cowboy actor Ronald Reagan was “Rawhide”.

Curiously, President George W Bush is known as “Tumbler”. It is unclear if this dates back to his days as an alcoholic, or reflects his collapse in the opinion polls since re-election.

What would the CIA code-name for Mr Ahern be? “Cunning” or “Anorak”?