Sir, - Your Editorial "Bush goes it alone" stated incorrectly that the Democratic Party controls the US Congress.
Congress is made up of two parts; the Senate (with 100 members) and the House of Representatives (with 435 members). In last year's elections, the Republicans were voted into control of not only the executive branch (George W. Bush), but both parts of the legislative branch.
The Senate was divided evenly between the parties, with Vice-President Dick Cheney having the power to cast a vote in the event of a tie, thus giving control of the Senate to the Republicans. It was only when Senator James Jeffers of Vermont decided to defect from the Republican party and become an independent (betraying the thousands of Vermont citizens who elected him as a Republican) that the Democrats took control by a 50-49 edge over the Republicans. The House of Representatives is under Republican leadership as they hold 222 of the 435 seats (210 Democrats, two independents, one vacant seat).
Your major point about a "disturbing unilateralist trend" in the Bush administration is certainly seen from a European perspective alone. Historically the United States has always chafed at the prospect of an international organization or treaty overriding national laws and procedures.
The people of Ireland recently rejected the Nice Treaty. Similarly, the people of the United States, through its elected leaders, are rejecting treaties and protocols that threaten the best interests of its citizens. - Yours, etc.,
Rick Tocci, Phibsboro, Dubin 7.