The problem is America now feels it has more to fear than fear itself

THE American Embassy held a big party in Dublin’s Mansion House on the night of the last American presidential election in November 2001. There were about 1,200 Irish guests, mainly media and political types from across the spectrum.

The organisers ran a mock presidential election. Each of the guests went into a special polling booth area to mark a mock ballot paper. The result was a lot more decisive than the real presidential election proved to be.

In the USA it took several days of recounts and ultimately a Supreme Court decision to decide the matter between George Bush and Al Gore. In the Mansion House, Gore had a clear victory.