Bertie kow-tows to Americans but treats Irish citizens with contempt

WHEN Bertie Ahern eventually appeared in the Dáil after the political/legal tornado which hit the country in the past two weeks, it would have been appropriate if he had declared Ireland to be the 52nd US state.

The reason is simple. The Government is more afraid of offending Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, and her boss, George Dubya Bush, than the Irish people.

The matter of rendition flights through Shannon is more important than the crisis precipitated by the Government.