George Bush didn't make an appearance. But a pro-war rally outside Belfast City Hall last night provided the US President with enthusiastic support for his current foreign policy, as well as offering him tips on where to go from here.
In the former category, one poster read: "Ulster says smash Saddam". In the latter, another prompted: "Basra. . .Baghdad. . Crossmaglen next?"
About 300 people attended the event, which was also notable for the presence of a non-speaking Rev Ian Paisley. The DUP leader's silence was explained by the rally's organiser, Ulster Unionist MLA and second World War veteran Sir John Gorman, who said he had called it as a non-political show of support for "our young chaps in the Gulf".
He also requested that a "political object" - a large banner reading: "Disarm Sinn Féin, disband IRA" be removed, although it was displayed for the cameras afterwards.
Sir John was decorated for his part in disabling a German tank in Normandy in 1944. The "Tiger Royal" tank was a special vehicle, impenetrable to the British guns. But at Sir John's suggestion it was rammed from the side, forcing the occupants to flee for cover. Years later, his story made the cover of the boy's war comic, Victor.
In a quiet speech last night, the moustached veteran praised the "stoicism and courage" of Tony Blair and said he was in no doubt that the war in Iraq "will end in victory for our boys".
He recalled that Belfast was the first city in Europe visited by US troops in the second World War, "and it's a remarkable coincidence and a great credit to us that the US President is meeting the British PM in Aldergrove Airport this evening."
Many of the attendance wore yellow ribbons in support of the troops, and ribbons were also tied to the railings of City Hall. All strains of unionist politics were represented, with those present including David Trimble's special adviser, Mr Steven King, and the MPs Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Peter and Iris Robinson, as well as the PUP's Mr Billy Hutchinson and Mr David Ervine.
When a large group of youths in baseball caps joined the crowd, one woman suggested they looked like "Fenians." But her fears were allayed as they listened respectfully to prayers by the Dean of St Anne's Cathedral, joined in the minute's silence, and helped sing God Save the Queen.
The sole protest came in the form of a car decked out in the Stars and Stripes, driven by two cigar-smoking American "GIs", with country-and-western music blaring from the radio. It circled City Hall twice just before the rally began but then disappeared.