He can run but he can't hide

The role of Shannon Airport in the Global War on Terror has been a source of recurring controversy in the Irish Republic. One of our many posts on the issue is here. Today brings news which makes us wonder whether Dublin and/or Washington are/is getting sensitive about the issue. Air Force 1 was due to make a refueling stop in Shannon en route from Tbilisi back to Washington. A small protest was planned -- and, in the manner of a trip by God's Vessel for Democracy Promotion to just about anywhere, a massive security lockdown was imposed. But the stopover has been cancelled and Dubya will fly straight back to Washington.

It's not clear what we can conclude, although if we take the smart conservative (sic) pundit David Brooks line, that pints of stout and Irish coffee promote deep thoughts and conciliation in US politics, all right-thinking people must be deeply troubled by this lost opportunity. But on balance we think that there is something fishy going on. Dubya's overseas excursions are planned to the last detail. Why would they expect to need a quick top-up at Shannon and then change their mind? The possibilities we see are (a) pressing business back in DC, or, more likely, (b) Bertie Ahern is in a panic about how quickly the dogs of peace have turned on British Taoiseach Tony Blair, and is cutting his links with the GWoT. Exit Shannon, Enter Prestwick?

UPDATE 11 MAY: A specific reason emerges that could have led to a sudden change in plans: a suspect device was tossed in Dubya's vicinity in Tbilisi on Tuesday, and his security team only found out about it a couple of hours after the event, with Dubya already in the air. The Secret Service may have decided to treat the danger as open-ended and therefore proceed straight home.