Tragedy for Bush

by: Reuben Easey

Ireland: Whilst actors have for years dared not utter its name, the Scottish Play proved to be the bane of the world's most powerful man on Saturday 26 June. In protest at George W. Bush's visit to Ireland, demonstrators performed a specially adapted version of 'Macbeth' starring Bush, Lady Macbeth, a ghost, a witch and several trees. The culmination of the performance saw the hapless president shrivelled by a magic spell, and ordered to leave Ireland and end the occupation of Iraq.

The ghost had earlier read out the names and ages of all the US soliders killed in operation in Iraq, whilst Lady Macbeth herself had read a list of all the Iraqi victims.

The previous day, around 10,000 people marched through Dublin in opposition to the president's war in Iraq and the policy of the Irish government to allow US planes to refuel on their soil.

The visit has seen unprecedented levels of security, with 6000 Gardai (the Irish police force) and troops involved, as well as all manner of military vehicles and equipment. One such piece of ordnance was stumbled across by protesters looking for a short-cut to the summit.

Making their way through a housing estate in order to avoid the massed ranks of riot police, the group found themselves face-to-face with an armoured vehicle, which was within moments festooned with flags, banners and posters. Most surprising of all is that the Gardai seemed completely willing for it to happen, even letting protesters lean against the tank as it pulled away and stage a symbolic die-in on the road.

In the words of protester Jennie James, "It turned out to be an absolutely brilliant day and once again renewed our faith in how great things can be achieved by small numbers given a little help from the Irish army and police."