Certainly not in the way that there was when that other president, Mary McAleese, not only met, but hugged Jackie McDonald from the UDA.

Of course the meeting between the US president - the most powerful man in the world, we're continually reminded - and Ian and Martin was entirely different.

Martin, for example, may be a self-confessed one-time terrorist commander.

But these days - as we're continually reminded - he's a peacemaker with a mandate.

You have to wonder, though, what victims of terrorist gangs on all sides of our community feel when they look at those photographs of the most powerful man in the world standing shoulder to shoulder with the one-time terrorist commander.

It hardly sends out a message that terror doesn't pay.

A point which may also be of considerable interest elsewhere.

A certain Mr O B Laden, for example, now believed to be residing somewhere in the Tora Bora region, may well be poring over those pics even as we speak.

If a former terrorist commander can get to rub shoulders with the a US president what's to stop a current terrorist commander from some day making the same sort of career move?

Does it matter that the former is Irish and the latter is Islamic?

That's what Osama may be asking himself right now.

Let's face it, given his fan base from Tipton to Baghdad it's entirely possible that he too could get himself a political mandate.

Which is where we come to one of the ongoing problems which George Bush now has to deal with in his much-hyped war against terror.

How to show consistency.

If Osama someday signals that he, too, would like to talk, can he expect to be treated as warmly as Martin in the White House or Jackie McDonald at Áras an Uachtaráin? Not in the foreseeable future you'd have to think.

When it comes to hurt inflicted upon their own civilians, Americans tend to have long memories.

The thing is though, terrorists have long memories too.

They see how other terror groups have been treated.

They see no reason why they shouldn't be treated this way themselves.

Osama is already on record on this very subject.

The IRA, financed and encouraged by many in Irish America, honed in the latter half of the 20th century, the expertise and the techniques used by countless other terror outfits throughout the world today.

And if those organisations gleaned terror tactics from the Provos, it's hardly a major leap to assume that they might one day try to emulate their political tactics, too.

Which brings us back to that picture of Martin standing alongside George in Washington.

Not just a picture that features a president.

But also, it may well turn out, a picture that sets a precedent.

Still just a step on the boss man's ladder, Dolly?

In the Mafia they have something called 'men of influence'.

Not necessarily a good thing. But you get the idea. Undoubtedly individuals with clout.

'Women of influence', however. Now that's not a phrase you hear all that much.

Who are the real 'women of influence' today? Political leaders? Female captains of industry?

Possibly.

But for a truly impressive example of a woman who wields enormous power over public opinion you have only to switch on the telly.

And tune in to a US chat show.

Oprah Winfrey is in American terms not just a mere chat show queen; she's now regarded as so influential she may help determine who will be the next president of the US.

Her backing for presidential candidate Barack Obama is deemed so likely to sway voters in the campaign that it's made global headlines.

Ironically enough Oprah's involvement will almost inevitably damage the chances of the only woman in the White House race, Hillary Clinton.

Also in the news of late on this side of the Atlantic is American Country music star Dolly Parton.

Like Winfrey, the pneumatic Parton comes from a dirt-poor background. Like Winfrey she is extremely intelligent and committed to helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds. In her case she's spearheaded a literacy programme that has now been adopted by an English council. Another woman of considerable influence.

It's hard to think of women on this side of the pond who would compare to Oprah and Dolly. Nigella Lawson can move mountains of any cooking ingredient just by endorsing it on her show. Kate Moss helps determine what many women wear.

But selling bun trays and clubbing gear is not quite on the same scale as getting your candidate elected president.

Here's the thing though - for all their influence, Oprah and Dolly underline something not quite so impressive about the American sisterhood.

Committed, passionate, political ? they may be all of these things. But not so influential as yet, though, that they've managed to get a woman like themselves into the top job in the White House.

A true son of the desert

An extremely rare creature - the long-eared jerboa - has been captured on film for the first time in its native Mongolia. Dubbed the Mickey Mouse of the Desert, it's the size of your average mouse but with long ears twice as big as its head. All this and it hops like a kangaroo.

It's described by conservationists as cute and extremely charming. Which indeed it does appear in pictures published this week.

Not so cute and extremely charming however, that you'd like to find one under your bed.

Spot the difference

Same Difference, the goofy, overly-expressive brother and sister duo who have now made it to the finals of the X Factor, rouse surprisingly strong emotions in many onlookers.

They're hated by some because they're that bit too enthusiastic. All that eye-rolling, brow-wrinkling, cheesy, smiley stuff does not go down well with Generation Cool.

But oddly this odd couple appear to have found a real fan base - not least among the very young who don't appreciate subtlety anyway.

Same Difference may not have the X Factor.

But never underestimate the power of the exaggeration factor.

Police squad go shopping

The PSNI have been training for weeks. Tomorrow morning the real operation will begin. A helicopter will be deployed and dozens of extra officers drafted in.

A flashpoint parade? An interface riot in the offing?

No. What they're getting ready for is the opening of furniture superstore Ikea when thousands of eager shoppers are expected to descend upon east Belfast's Holywood Exchange.

What you could call the flat-pack frontline.