Instead of protesting, Ireland should welcome President Bush and celebrate our relationship with the US, writes Michael Parsons
Imagine the outrage here if an American Democratic senator described the Progressive Democrats as a bunch of "neo-conservative crazies" who had taken control of Leinster House.
Or a Republican congressman had called on President Bush to cancel the Taoiseach's recent visit to Georgia because he disliked Fianna Fáil policy. It is a reasonable assumption that even people who do not support the Government parties would have taken offence.
But this week's EU-US summit has generated some pretty intemperate language.
Green Party TD John Gormley said the invitation to President Bush was an "affront" and "the crazies that have taken over the White House must not be left in doubt that their neo-conservative doctrine is not acceptable to most Irish people and Europeans".
Does Mr Gormley also want the Taoiseach to reprimand prime ministers Blair and Berlusconi who continue resolutely to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bush on Iraq? Unless voters decide otherwise, these leaders must continue to work together.
Proinsias De Rossa MEP believes "the location of the summit in Ireland is in fact an elaborate electioneering stunt designed to appeal to Irish-American voters".
But President Bush cannot cease all activity just because it's election year. Using this bizarre yardstick, the Taoiseach could have been accused of exploiting the photogenic G8 summit just days before local and European polls. Or President McAleese criticised for attending the Spanish royal wedding to procure glamorous snaps for use in a possible electoral campaign later this year. Both trips were, of course, entirely appropriate.
It is astonishingly patronising to suggest that Irish-Americans would be influenced in November's election by fleeting images from a meeting of world leaders. But many Americans feel terribly uneasy seeing TV pictures of European demonstrators brandishing images of President Bush bearing the slogan "Wanted for Murder". Empty hotel rooms from London to Rome bear testimony to that.
The Irish Anti-War Movement has called for "huge" demonstrations. For what purpose? The war to topple Saddam is over and Europeans from Galway to Gdansk have already expressed their views on the streets and through the ballot box.
Now an Iraqi government, backed by a new UN resolution, is on the brink of taking office. Isn't it time to move on and "give peace a chance?" The allegation that President Bush "has waged a war of terror against the people of Iraq" is a grotesque distortion of the truth and an appalling slur on the overwhelming majority of coalition troops. The few soldiers who behave dishonourably are rightly court-martialled and punished. They are not decapitated on video.
Those calling for the withdrawal of troops would abandon ordinary Iraqis to pitiless jihadis - both local and foreign - who convincingly claim to "love death" and loathe political freedom. In other words, terrorists, whose only contribution to political debate is an Armalite in each hand and a suicide bomb strapped to the waist.
Chanting vapid slogans and hoisting offensive posters condemning President Bush won't help the people of Iraq who need support to rebuild their lives after decades of tyranny. Establishing a secure and stable democracy is essential - as it was in Eastern European countries following the collapse of communism.
While America was mourning Ronald Reagan last week, officials on both sides of the Atlantic continued their preparations for this historic summit. By an extraordinary twist of fate, citizens of the former "evil empire" will be represented for the first time on such an occasion as a result of EU enlargement.
Reagan was often scorned and ridiculed by western Europeans grown complacent behind a barrier of cold war American security, but he's remembered as a hero in Warsaw and Vilnius, Prague and Budapest. When he visited Ireland two decades ago there were protests by the usual suspects. Plus ça change. Here's a prediction: some day a state funeral in Washington will feature fulsome eulogies from the leaders of democratic Arab states.
During President Bush's state visit to Britain last year opinion polls showed a majority of the public supported the visit. Regardless of their views on the war, people viewed the occasion as a fitting celebration of the strong relationship which binds the two countries and transcends day-to-day politics and personalities.
In similar vein, President Chirac invited him to Normandy earlier this month to celebrate the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Despite their differences over Iraq, it would have been unthinkable for the French not to have included the leader of a country which came to their rescue in two world wars. And churlish to mount protests. America, regardless of who occupies the White House, is a major ally, supporter and trading partner of Ireland and the entire European Union. The EU presidency has greatly enhanced this country's international prestige and generated unprecedented exposure to our culture and traditional hospitality. But power and influence impose responsibilities. Hosting this crucial summit is the closing scene in Ireland's class act and will require skilful diplomacy to renew constructive dialogue between the old and new worlds. Regressive debate and crude personal insults have no role in this drama. The Taoiseach will represent over 400 million Europeans, of all political persuasions, and President Bush the people of America, not just those who may support him politically.
The US has always received Irish and EU leaders with cordiality and courtesy. This week the people of Ireland, on behalf of all Europeans, should accord President Bush a dignified and warm welcome.
- Michael Parsons is an Irish freelance journalist working in London.
Tomorrow: Joe Higgins TD on why Mr Bush should not be welcomed.