Bush’s Irish mission

WHY has President Bush decided to visit Ireland next month and why has Taoiseach Bertie Ahern allowed the visit go ahead? The only obvious explanation is downright arrogance on the part of both leaders.

The Taoiseach must be aware of people's feelings having witnessed the huge gathering in Dublin and the pickets at Shannon during the invasion of Iraq.

Bush has two objectives to boost his image among the Irish/American community back home in the run-up to the elections there and to pave the way for a request to send an Irish peacekeeping contingent to sacrifice their lives for 'his cause' in Iraq, should this become necessary.