Poll findings - Anti-Bush feeling running high

It would be unthinkable just a few very short years ago that the majority of the Irish people would be hostile to the visit to this country by an American president.

Yet, that extraordinary fact has emerged from the latest Irish Examiner public opinion poll which was conducted in the East constituency, or Leinster, as part of the paper’s series in connection with the local and European elections.

Of those polled, a very substantial 67% do not want President George W Bush to come to this country at the end of next month for the EU-US summit.

There were 19% in favour of his visit, but even if the 14% of those who had no opinion were added to them, there would be still a considerable majority who would rather he did not come.

The result of the poll obviously reflects the depth of angry feeling there is in this country towards the conduct of America in Iraq, especially in the aftermath of the revelations about torture and degradation of detainees by the American forces.

It is remarkable contrast that even surrounded by the Monica Lewinsky scandal, President Bill Clinton was still a welcome and popular visitor to Ireland, and still is.

The poll undoubtedly reflects the prevalent attitude towards Mr Bush, rather than a general anti-American attitude in the country.