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THE SILLY SEASON continued with aplomb at the weekend courtesy of the Sunday Times report featuring Bertie Ahern. Obviously short on sensational scoops, the paper contacted the former Taoiseach’s colleagues and detailed how they were surprised at the revelation that Bertie apparently scratched the Sunday Independent’s back while it scratched his.
The story regarding how the then Taoiseach gave the Sunday Indo insider scoops in return for the newspaper not printing details from his turn at the Mahon tribunal, had already been revealed on the TV3 documentary Print and Be Damned.
But if there is anything truly shocking about this story, it is the fact it comes as a surprise to anyone. Politicians and anyone with a public profile almost always try to influence coverage by offering something in return.
Indeed, the job of public relations consultants is often more about keeping stories out of the media than getting stories into the media.
Nonetheless, even with emerging signs of recovery in the property market signalling an economy on the slow but steady rise out of recession, and with many other stories of importance to occupy our thoughts, Bertie bashing still gains traction in the media.
We need to look with our heads rather than our hearts
This is despite the fact that, more than ever, we need the ability to look at our past, present and future with our heads rather than our hearts. But, while this would be the ultimate sign of a country that has finally reached adulthood, it seems as far away as ever.
In January 1988 the Economist used the headline “Poorest of the Rich” to describe Ireland’s place in Europe. Less than ten years later it was calling us “Europe’s shining light.”
Now, similar to 25 years ago, Ireland needs to drag itself out of a wretched economic slump to become a leading light once again. And when it comes to achieving this and protecting our economy from the mistakes that robbed us all of the riches gained over the past two decades, the government should turn to those who have been there and done that.
While Albert Reynolds and then John Bruton helped create and indeed usher in the turn around to Ireland’s economic fortunes, it was under Bertie Ahern’s leadership when the country truly became a global brand for success.
Indeed, regardless of what you think of the man, the list of achievements on his curriculum vitae between 1997 and 2008 are not only the envy of any Taoiseach, but of any world leader.
Arrogance and ego compounded gross mistakes
And then it all collapsed. Arrogance and ego compounded gross mistakes through inaction and ineptitude, with a ‘sure we will be alright on the night’ attitude.
Our fall from grace is a matter of public record and has left a scar everyone in Ireland will carry for a long time.
However, as obscene and unpalatable as this may sound, with our economy looking as if it is on the way to slowly climbing out of the hole it was catapulted in to, few have Bertie Ahern’s insight and knowledge when it comes to economic success, nor do they have his insider knowledge of the gross errors that can be made to squander such success.
However, mention his name nowadays and you will be verbally hung, drawn and quartered.
But the truth is the only way we can ever ensure we learn from the past is to embrace it.
The lessons they learned could be ignored
I am not for one minute suggesting Ahern should ever again lead this country or a political party. It would be a farce to suggest he would ever be in a position to do so. But if we banish Bertie and the others we blame for our downfall from public discourse the lessons they learned could be ignored.
They therefore should not be ex-communicated. They have the knowledge to explain the decision-making process behind key policies (some which worked and others which bombed) during their time in office, in order to help agencies, government departments or advisory boards guard against past mistakes and better plan for a sustainable future.
However, if any government-connected think-tank or advisory group declared it had collaborated in any way with the likes of Ahern or Cowen people would be up in arms.
While in America they laud and learn from people who have been forced to study the hard lessons of failure, in Ireland we shun them. And that is why, unfortunately, we never truly seem to learn from our past.
Paul Allen is managing director of Paul Allen and Associates PR, www.prireland.com
Black box data should be instantly transmitted rather than recorded and stored on the plane
Yes I was thinking the same, but can it be transmitted over such a distance from a plane? It must not be possible? But surely it is something which could at least be fitted with some form of flotation device so it can’t sink? At least if it floats, it can be traced easier.
Seeing as no one knows what happened to this plane isn’t every theory a conspiracy or is it just the theories that the media make up the real theory?
Some theories are more credible than others Nigel. For example:
The plane was likely crashed in to the Indian ocean in a tragic pilot suicide
vs.
The plane was likely hijacked, remotely, by the US Government
I’m waiting for Jim Corr to give his version of events…..
Has anyone searched Diego Garcia yet to put all the rumours to rest?
Diego Garcia is an ETOPS emergency landing site and as such covered by commercial radar so if it did fly there someone would have noticed, that and it’s last known position based on satellite data and the distance it had all ready travelled puts it out of range of Diego Garcia
MSM has been told to keep a lid on it..
Not mention of it even in the rags.
@Frank, been reading your comments and responses to this over the past few weeks and across various articles but have never replied .You have had some very valid points and the comments aimed towards you have been unfair in my opinion.
The US government has been known for creating many false flag events over the years, 9/11 was a prime example with many many signs pointing towards such…A good source of documented information can be found across many websites and in various documentaries like ‘ZeitGeist’ for example (can be found on Netflix).
Over the past year we have seen the US and various EU states move towards control of the internet-(also well documented) and whistle-blowers like Mr. Snowdan have helped those of us who have our eyes open to see what we are being force fed through the general media is a lie.
The ‘War on Terror’ is a farce and was created to instill fear in the general public, and it would hardly surprise me if there was not some of the same bullshit involved with this incident.
Security has already been bumped up on airlines right around the globe but more-so in the states where people civil liberties are being broken while passing through these airports.
Could this possibly be a similar situation to allow the US and allied EU states gain some control over the ever free internet?
A top hacker recently showed at a conference how planes can easily be hacked and controlled without anything the pilot can do, same as Iran did when it took down a US drone with similar methods.
I cannot speculate exactly what happen to flight MH370, but one thing seems to be very sure and that is there some form of cover up going on and the families and media are not being told the truth.
I have also mentioned the Netflix Movie Dirty Wars 2013 by Freelance Journalist Rick Rowley ….It gives you some insight to how evil the US Government has got under the Obama Administration. After watching it one can well understand why people become so sceptical about the US Global agenda.
Two tards
I just find it unbelievable that a plane can fly for 7 hours unnoticed, After 9/11 I thought the skys were monitored and secured because as this stands anyone could take a plane and fly it wherever they want and not be detected and cause any amount of damage
Was the plane commandeered by hijackers or terrorists?
Yes ……Remotely by the US Government…
Never change Frank, if nothing else your comments never fail to make me laugh!
The shills come out in force..
Yes Frank, I work for the US government and have been planted here in the comments section of thejournal.ie to steer people away from the real truth.
Well done, you got me.
Certain events will always mark time periods for people. This is one event that I will always remember. Yes became its a major tragedy for all involved, but mainly for the mystery involved. It really is like something out of the twilight zone.
Aussies on verge of sending down underwater vessel to look for wreckage: http://ab.co/1stOcnW
If they are from MH370, what happens next? ……
….Iran gets blamed and the War starts…
I know what you mean about shills frank but sounds like sheep is more appropriate. I said to a mate at the weekend that i’m skeptical about 9/11. I was jeered at and labelled jim corr.
Did MH370 become a ‘ghost plane’?
Never in this day and age with such sophisticated surveillance and communications… It can certainly become a ‘ghost plane’ if the cockroaches in Western powers want you to believe it that way.
Frank are you really Mel Gibson?
Frank trolling only works when you drop the odd bomb. But when ya commenting over and over we know your just taking the mickey :)
Have to say I had thought no chance of that pinger working but there you go. Go on the us navy
It’s funny that even though we live in such a technological world where information is emerging 24/7 from all angles, the media all over the world still insists on being carbon copies of each other and reporting and emphasizing the exact same stories. There are far more important matters that are being neglected, but why??? Are we incapable of any originality?
It’ll be one hell of a movie……
One damn good propaganda movie….
Frank what are you going to do if they find the plane you seem to be loving the conspiracy theory’s
Even if they did pull something out of the water I would take it as a lie.
Frank what happened to the plane and why?
Anything could have happened to it… Most alternative media and CT point to Diego Garcia military base.
My speculation is that it was a botched false flag attempt by the West intended to draw Iran into conflict.
Either the passengers were all bumped off or else they never existed in the first place. The US Government has hired professional crisis actors in the past.
Coincidentally ex Malaysian Airways clone of this missing plane has been sitting in a hangar at Teliviv airport since November. Whether this had anything to do with a botched spectacular also leaves questions. https://2012thebigpicture.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/why-do-the-israelis-have-a-777-identical-to-mh370-in-a-hangar-in-tel-aviv/
So you’re saying all the relatives that we see on tv crying with pics of their families and kids and their backgrounds are made up?
Frank, you wouldn’t happen to be a friend of Jim Corr would you?
Jaymie There are such things as crisis actors, a phenomena among corrupt Governments that stoop so low to push their agenda’s by playing on the minds of people.
This is a brilliant 10 minute documentary on the Boston Bombing that shows you exactly how actors and special effects were a major part of this hoax.
…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03UMewFYD6w
I would well believe crisis actors were used in this incident and if so it won’t be too long before all the discrepancies start cropping up on UTube.
Frank I know a victim of the Boston bombing your comment is digitising and out of order!
We know f**k all,let’s be honest,
Hope relatives get closure soon,how
I don’t know.
If the pings aren’t from the black box then what are they from?
An orange box with flight data recorder writing on it?
Written
One truth is that the plane was carrying employees from a company,called Freescale,who,invented a component,that would make the plane undetected.They were about to make TRILLIONS,from this,another businessman had a share too,The 20 of them,were in that plane!! A few days later the Patent,came through, they missed out on Trillions, only the business man,will get the money,the component will be invaluable in war zones,because planes wont be detected.I looked up Freescale,and yes,20of their employers were on that plane!And they. .
According to Forbes magazine Bill Gates is currently the worlds richest man, worth $76 billion. However, according to you this business man no one has heard of is about to top Bill Gates, and is worth thousands of Billions? He is going to be worth more than 25 times what Bill Gates has earned with one business deal. Nonsense.
The pilot flew the plane into the remotest part of the Indian ocean he could find-end of !
End of for you but not for the families of 239 people on board the plane. Or for anyone else who is interested in the fact that a plane (most of us fly in them at some point) can vanish – id certainly like to know what happened so lessons could be learnt
What will the black box tell us? Whoever hijacked it wouldn’t be giving much away to the black box would they?
Black Boxes are not Gospel and have been substituted, doctored and interfered with right down through history.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1519470/
The box will record voice and every input and system settings as well as what instruments were reading for last few hours before impact.
So yeah they will reveal everything. If someone throttles up or makes an adjustments the boxes will tell and we know it was suicide or not. It will reveal a huge amount
Give it a rest Frank, or I’ll drive around to your basement apartment and give you a right whack on your noggin with my ivory handled cane!
I’d say Frank’s been interfered with.
Im sick a hearin about dis bleedin plane at dis stage, its bleedin gone
Ah jaysus, yeah, georgie burgess!
Ah jaysus, dats right, georgie burgess!
Ah jaysus, georgie burgess!
Gone where Jacinta?
Honest Tom,it was nice of you to send me a link to some classified info!!!
Honest Tom, I wont be naming anyone,here,go find out for yourself, its easy.
Orla. Freescale semiconductors had 20 employees on the flight. From that fact you have jumped to the conclusion that those people were the patent holders of some new amazing technology. Are you saying there was 21 people who owned the patent, Those 20 plus the 1 other patent holder who wasn’t on the flight?
I am employed by a very large American software/technology company. It doesn’t mean I own any of their patents.
Orla. Further to above, the patent does exist. However if you look it up you will see that none of the owners of the patent were on the passenger list of the flight.
Four of the chinese employees were patent holders,Tom.Il say no more.
Orla. I wasn’t suggesting it was classified info. If anything I was showing how easy it was to see the patent and check the facts. None of the owners of the patent were on the passenger list of flight MH370.
Four of the Chinese employees were patent holders, you’ll say no more. So basically you have nothing intelligent to say. None of the names listed on the patent were on the passenger list. You carry on though, don’t let the facts get in the way if your crazy conspiracies !
On the conspiracy theory note,i dont think this is one,but 9/11 has some smoking guns,the level of misdirection it takes to manage to make the third wtc building go so unnoticed,in spite of the fact that it fell demolition style,after some localised fires,now i could at a stretch believe that two buildings would fall like that,but three is pushing credibility,especially when the third building didnt take a hit!
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