UNDER the gaze of a watching world, Irish Prime Minister John Bruton pleads in America for the IRA to renew its ceasefire.

But how significant it is that, in the US, where powerful republican sentiment among Irish Americans lend sympathy and dollars to the IRA, he should specifically target his words directly at the six or seven terrorist chiefs with power to respond positively to his call.

For real financial and political influence can be brought to bear in the States on IRA policy.

Yet the distinction between the legitimate peace process, as embraced by the Irish government, and the "freedom" cause, waged by the IRA, is not clear in the minds of many US voters.

Mr Bruton made that clear with his plea in Washington.

He also stressed to US Congress members that if it made sense for the IRA to declare a ceasefire in the hope of having peace talks, then it made even more sense now that a date for talks was set.

In short, he put them on the spot - right before a crucial audience - of making the choice of negotiating at the conference table or away from it with the bomb and bullet.

It was a smart move.

He has dared the IRA to isolate themselves by demonstrating their bloody-mindedness in front of those whose hearts and dollars they cannot do without, or proving that their commitment to peace is genuine.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.