John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

—while it supports a private, illegal army which trades in terror both in this country and abroad.

Some wild left-wingers accuse President Bush and Tony Blair of being warmongers hell-bent on subjugating a small defenceless nation. I strongly disagree, as would anyone who has seen war. I am reminded of my time in Lebanon where I witnessed profoundly distressing scenes as a result of armed conflict. I also saw the benefits of the UN confronting armed elements. I saw communities return to their villages and to their daily lives as a result of the confrontation of armed elements. I do not accept that such confrontation was immoral or wrong.

In recent days as I watched world leaders go through the decision-making process, I was reminded of an occasion when having received reports from his various subordinates and advisers, I watched a military commander left alone with his thoughts, knowing that his decision would inevitably lead to the loss of life. I watched that man pace to and fro, the weight of the decision he was about to make clearly visible on his shoulders. I saw that as I watched President Bush pace the White House lawn and in the countenance of Tony Blair as he stood alone at the dispatch box – although alone in thought, he was in the midst of speaking to a packed Parliament and of making a decision.

Today the lives of ordinary Iraqis and of Anglo-American service men and women – many of Irish descent and who were proud to be Irish last Monday – lie heavily on the shoulders of George Bush and Tony Blair. I pray that God has granted them the wisdom to fulfil with compassion the role destiny has given them. I wish them good fortune in the days ahead but, above all, I hope that the decisions which lie ahead do not become an intolerable weight on their shoulders.