ANALYSIS: "The very rapid progress made by Coalition forces," said the Taoiseach yesterday, "makes it possible to hope that the war will be over soon and that Saddam's regime will be at an end and that there will be no more deaths."
It also makes it possible for Mr Ahern to hope that it will soon be business as usual again for Irish foreign policy. It has been a bruising period during which the Taoiseach and his Ministers were widely criticised and at times ridiculed for not taking a clear line on the war on Iraq.
However having decided that it was politically impossible unambiguously to back or oppose the US/British war on Iraq, the predictions of an early end to the war open the prospect of the Government being able to take a clearer line on safer and more familiar ground: How to police and stabilise a post-conflict situation.
On this ground, the Taoiseach has had a better couple of days than he has had for months in relation to foreign policy. Faced with the fait accompli that the leaders of the war were to have their summit here, and that he was to be invited to play what was in the context a bit part, he and the Government made the most of the opportunity.
Mr Ahern had given the United States exactly what it wanted by allowing it continue to use Shannon Airport during the war despite the absence of a United Nations resolution.
The Government is now confident that the Bush Administration, which likes to reward its friends and punish the disloyal, sees Ireland as securely in its camp.
Now that the post-conflict situation is on the agenda, the Taoiseach has been able to take a position in line with mainstream international opinion, while challenging the more hawkish end of Washington in relation to who runs Iraq after the war.
On Monday, the Taoiseach clearly aligned himself with most of Europe including Prime Minister Blair in calling for the United Nations, and not the United States, to have the primary role in the post-war administration of Iraq.
Mr Ahern sought contact with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, on Monday to add weight to what he was going to say to President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.
He told reporters yesterday that he had represented the UN view very strongly to the two leaders, and that he believed Mr Annan would be very happy with the outcome.
Whether he will be remains to be seen. The Bush/Blair statement suggested it would be the Coalition that would proceed with the reconstruction of Iraq, working with others including the United Nations.
The interim authority would be established with the help of members of the Coalition, and working with the Secretary General of the United Nations. The United Nations had a vital role which is not the same as the lead role. There is clearly still a lot to be resolved on this issue.
Of course nobody expects the Taoiseach of this small State to have any major influence on this issue. But what is significant is that having sat on the fence in relation to the conflict, Ireland is now lined up with the mainstream EU position and unambiguously with the United Nations on the post-conflict situation.
In his press conference yesterday, the Taoiseach emphasised that Irish non-governmental organisations remained willing and able to help.
No doubt we will hear more about the history of Irish troops contributing very significantly to peacekeeping, the role that we as a small state can play in such a situation.
In short, the Government may be back making the traditional points it makes in relation to foreign conflicts, although it is unlikely the word "neutrality" will be used quite so easily in the future.