Neutral, are we? Remember Dev was prepared to fight the Italians

WHILE I was waiting for a flight at Shannon on Tuesday, hundreds of American soldiers in desert camouflage began trooping through the departure lounge. There must have been over 300 men. Some Americans in the lobby began clapping.

During World War II, American troops, based in the North were welcomed when they visited Dublin in uniform. But now some people object to Americans in uniform being facilitated at Shannon, and they cite our historic policy of 'neutrality' as their justification. They are even arguing that, if ratified, the Nice Treaty would somehow undermine this policy. They are deluding themselves.

The Americans are still suffering from the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. On Wednesday American television was given over almost exclusively to programmes devoted to commemorations and explanations of what actually happened on that day.