The Government is prepared to let the US land military aircraft at Shannon Airport even if it invades Iraq without a United Nations mandate, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has indicated in Washington.
Following a meeting with President Bush, Mr Ahern said Ireland would "be the only country in the free world" to withdraw facilities to the US if it ruled Shannon out of bounds to US forces.
Drawing a distinction between the continued use of Shannon and Ireland's position towards a US invasion of Iraq, Mr Ahern said Ireland would not "engage or involve ourselves in" an invasion unless backed by a second UN resolution.
The US had used Shannon during the Vietnam war and Kosovo war, for example. "There have been many precedents and examples of that over 45 years." Acknowledging that a significant number of people opposed Shannon's continued availability, Mr Ahern said the Government had not made a final decision and it would return the issue to the Dáil for a final decision.
"It is obviously an issue for public opinion. What I am doing is setting out the practice by Irish governments since 1955. The practice has been that if there was no resolution, we did not engage in military action or support military action.
"But we did not withdraw the fly-over rights and landing rights at Shannon. I think it is only right that I point that out to Irish public opinion. France and Germany are not withdrawing their facilities.
"If they do not land in Shannon, they will land in Germany, which fought an election on an anti-war \. The Arab countries, who are saying so much that they are opposed to this, are letting them use their facilities. We would be the only country in the free world who would be doing that.
"Prior to us making that decision, it is only right that the Irish public understand that position," he told journalists in the White House.
Accepting a bowl of shamrock from Mr Ahern, Mr Bush, who was accompanied by the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, said the US regarded Ireland as "a valued member of the coalition against terror".
Emphasising the ties that exist, he pointedly said: "The strong ties between Ireland and the United States go back centuries. The strong ties have been affirmed at critical moments in our countries' histories.
"We have stood together in Afghanistan, in Kosovo, in Bosnia and beyond to stop aggression and alleviate suffering. Ireland is a valued member of the coalition against global terror and we thank you," he told Mr Ahern.
Mr Bush's remarks, which were followed by Mr Ahern's indications about Shannon, were interpreted as heightening the pressure on the Government to support, or at least not actively oppose, unilateral US action.
Mr Bush spent up to an hour at a reception attended by Northern Irish leaders, including the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, and the SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan.
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, arrived late after he became delayed in traffic, which led to the retaking of a photograph with Mr Bush and the visiting politicians.
In approval of policing reforms under way, the Chief Constable of the PSNI, Mr Hugh Orde, and two new recruits, one Catholic, one Protestant, were also invited.
Washington visit: page 11
