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WHEN THEN-HEALTH Minister Charles Haughey went to visit Iraq in 1978, he tried to arrange a meeting with the effective head of the country.
Unfortunately for Haughey, Saddam Hussein was unable to meet him.
Papers from the trip, which included trips to Iraqi hospitals and attempts to sell medical supplies to Iraq, form part of the State Papers released this year.
The papers reveal that an arrangement was planned to swap medical resources between the two countries and that there was a ‘striking political goodwill’ towards Ireland from Iraq.
They do, however concede that Iraq was a “difficult” market.
Accompanied by Liam Lawlor, Haughey met with high-ranking officials and gave a speech to a medical college, where he said that Iraq was, in some ways, more advanced than Ireland in terms of medical practice.
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Saddam knew a meeting with fianna fail would destroy his reputation.
Genius.
Iraq is so unlucky that ould charley has passed away………… Who better in the world could have helped organise the rebuild
With all those American dollars anyone could have got planning permission ……… Ya could build a Catholic Church in a mosque if ya had the the famous “”brown bag”
Even Saddam knew a dirt-bag when he saw one.
Ould Charlie could do a deal with anyone
Unfortunately Charlie did not get the same end as Saddam.
Apparently Haughey also earmarked Jimmy Saville as an ideal mediator for business between himself and Margaret Thatcher……..you couldn’t make it up
As disturbed a picture of a powerful sexual deviant like Haughey meeting a powerful and prolific one like Haughey it also raises the point why Jummy Saville was so favoured in the Tory Party.
The authorities believed he was a Paedophile in the 80′s and yet he still got appointed to hospital boards, was abloe to go drinking with the Moores murderer etc in jail. Whathad Jimmy done for people or over powerful people.
Saville used to joke that he fixed things for powerful people and that is where the idea for the show came.
Haughey,Lawlor&Hussein , there’s a tyrannical trio .
The UN wanted to put him on a list of tyrants but sadam objected
Unholy Trinity
Saddam was busy in a meeting with his old friend Donald Rumsfeld .
Where are the FF bots? Come on lads, come on here and defend YOUR man.
Against what Petr?
Are you suggesting that Saddam was some kind of evil dictator that deserved the invasion by the US and the UK?
I thought you were against the war in Iraq?
Saddam might be alive today if he had met with Haughey, he might have learned to be a better crook from
Haughey the master of crooks
Hussein, rightly so, thought that such a meeting would damage his image.
Fianna Fáil have only ever brought shame on this country internationally. De Valera extending his sympathies to Germany following the death of Hitler was a despicable act.
And de Valera also wormed his way out of execution to claim his USA birth after claiming to be the most irish of all Irishmen
FF= fcukin false
FG = fcukin gloryhunters
Oooops I forgot one
LAB=. Used to lead the blind across the road
Theres an old saying in Iraq….’You lie with dogs, you catch fleas’.
Why did you erase a comment that was favoured by readers by six to one……. And was in no way offensive ????????
I said Charlie ended in a hole just like sadam………… A political and financial hole
Learn the use of the language and it’s rhetorical nature before you judge it
You can be a journalist or a censor …… The both usually do not become one unless you have an alternative motive
An Journal/ An Phoblacht is totally neutral, it does not show favouritism or political bias. If you do not accept this you will be censored or your ‘account’ deleted.
Sorry to rant on and on ,,,,,,,but, I am guessing that a majority of people get more satisfaction on this site from the comments than its journalistic qualities and I think you guys should consider that when deleting comments,,,,,
When they are not life threatening or offensive but opinionated and of interest to your readers and approved by them maybe you should take a deep breath or count to ten before you hit the snotty button
Perhaps you need an overseer who knows and respects the ART of journalism……. And freedom of speech, which is rule no one of your profession
Again sorry to all readers about the rant but it had to be said eventually
Excellent comment Declan.
Please patrick I appreciate your thoughts on my opinion and I will respect yours ……….. But get rid of the butchers apron as it’s offensive to a lot of people here ……..
But I will always respect your right to freedom of speech so that was only a suggestion and not a demand
You talk for respect, then tell him he’s not allowed to display the flag of where he comes from?.
That’s a bit rude just asking a man/woman to get rid of his or her flag the British have a lot to be proud of.
And Irish people should not always relate it to tribal marking like a Loyalist housing estate.
It’s ironic declan that you say people get satisfaction from this site for the comments, and then you go on to post an example of what is bad about some of the ignorant comments that are made on here!. If you respect his freedom of speech, you should respect his freedom to display his flag!
Saddam could have learnt a few things from Charlle.
Yeah, saddam said, “I’m a bit busy pal, just about to start fighting with Iran, but go see my mate in Libya, he’ll help you out”!
If Charlie had visited Iraq they would have been invaded for weapons of mass deception!
Even if he told the dail that he went to Iraq and met sadam……………… Could we really believe him
Haughey and Liam Lawlor on tour, I’d say those hotel rooms were fleeced :)
“Iraq was, in some ways, more advanced than Ireland in terms of medical practice” 35 years later and the state of health care here probably hasn’t improved that much, what with HSE mismanagement, corruption and the dire state of infrastructure. Maybe Ireland should ask Iraq for aid? lol
H bless…..hope they are together now, taking turns stroking the coals.
Saddam didnt want to be tainted being seen with this crook
Even Saddam knew better than to meet Charlie!!
have your say