The irish people are not so happy to see Bush and he faces some strong protests all over.
Ireland will not be the land of smiling faces as Bush arrives in Ireland soon. The people of Ireland are protest against the war and feel it was unjust. The recent pictures of Americam soilders abusing prisoners has not helped Bush and he faces a new battle here in Ireland. To make things worse America is looking for immunity for its agents during Bush's time in Ireland. The fear is if force is required to protect the American president and the results end in serious injury or death while on irish soil, the agents involved will be subject to the irish courts. I feel this is fair as the irish courts will examine the evidence and the public deserve to know the facts surrounding any incident during the Bush visit. If fair and just force was need and enforced then the irish people will be content with the knowledge that they had a judged those responsoble. If something was to happen (and people fear the visit will encourage this) resulting in the death of an innocent bystander, I'm sure immunity from the courts will only add to the grief of the family who would be entitled to justice in a fair and just court. Apart from that local residents have commented on how they feel like they are in prison with id cards being requested and areas of their community restricted by security personnel. The people feel a visit from a world leader should bring excitement to the town not a list of rules on how to act or where to go. What ever happened to a country where being irish entitled you to freedom and the right to speak out. The protests organised during the visit will have one main theme the war, which some felt was illegal and see it as America becoming the leader of the world and those who oppose will fee the fist of the American armed forces. In my opinion any country where its people are made to suffer under a goverment should be removed by force if need be and America is one of many countries in the position to do that. The UN spent too much time talking while a country is suffering and people fall victim to daily injustices.
CCDavid Maher