Saudi king travels in style: On a mission

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House next week will go ahead because pragmatism has trumped principle.

It will go ahead because we need America far, far more than America needs us.

However, had Mr Kenny chosen to travel in the grand style of Saudi Arabia’s Salman the criticism would be shrill and entirely justified. Despite imposing cutbacks, just like Mr Kenny, the king arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday leading a retinue of about 1,500 people.