Travels with Uncle Gerry

Everything changed after 11/9 even for Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams. You can read his account of his travels here but I especially enjoyed this droll encounter with an FBI agent:

"Have you a schedule, sir?"

"Yup," I say, with the patience of a man used to spending four or five hours at a time at the side of Irish roads in the company of the British Army's Parachute Regiment, back in the days when British Army roadblocks were daily rites of passage.

I hand the FBI young gun a copy of my travel schedule - a document that has been in the possession of the US state department for the past month or so.

"Huh," he says. "Why are you going to the White House, sir?"

"To see the president."

"Huh. Why?"

"He asked me," I say evenly.

My deadpan delivery is wasted on him. Maybe he is used to dealing with wise guys.

"Why, sir?"

"I can't discuss that with you. Security ... you know what I mean."

"Huh," he says, looking me straight in the eyes. I return his gaze. I have been interrogated on a number of occasions at Palace Barracks, where they beat you for the hell of it, so playing at "blinking first" with the FBI apprentice and letting him win is no problem.