We must not back war without UN

In his White House meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday, President George W Bush referred to the fact that Ireland and the US stand united in the war against “tyranny and terror.”

As a general principle that sentiment cannot be contradicted, but against the backdrop of an inevitable war with Iraq, Mr Ahern is confined to supporting America only if it has the imprimatur of the United Nations.

At this stage, that is highly unlikely to happen.