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  • Cos and Minister of Defence in a bust up ?

    Did anyone see the news ?

    O'Dea denies rift with Defence Forces chief
    watch Saturday, 24 February 2007 19:11

    A spokesperson for the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea has denied there is a risk between himself and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, lieutenant general Jim Sreenan.

    The comments come after a report in The Irish Times that the minister has sent a strongly worded letter to the General last month reminding him that any public comment on national, international, or political issues was a breach of defence forces rules.

    It said regulations prohibit the airing of individual or controversial views by members of the forces.

    It is thought the minister's letter followed an interview given by the General to the Irish Times in which he discussed peacekeeping issues.

    This morning the Minister's Spokesperson said there is no problem between Mr O'Dea and the Chief of Staff and the two have regular contact.

    A spokesman for the defence forces also said both men speak regularly on a wide range of topics. He said the minister's letter had been circulated to senior officers to inform them of the ministers instructions.

    General Sreenan, who is due to retire in June, and Minister O'Dea are expected to travel together to Lebanon this week to visit Irish troops on duty there.
    A spokesperson for the Minister for Defence has denied there is a risk between himself and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
    What is happening ??

  • #2
    BIg Jim gets a set of Liathoridis a couple of weeks prior to his ticket

    isnt a pity these testicles didnt drop when he got one of his many promotions
    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere***
    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
    The best lack all conviction, while the worst
    Are full of passionate intensity.

    Comment


    • #3
      Ah, but would he have got promotion if he had rocked the boat?

      Comment


      • #4
        NO he wouldnt and thats why he never even slightly over balanced the boat
        Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
        Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
        The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere***
        The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
        The best lack all conviction, while the worst
        Are full of passionate intensity.

        Comment


        • #5
          willie is still a limerick short arse knob
          Last edited by Big Al; 25 February 2007, 00:31.
          You're even dumber than I tell people

          You might have been infected but you never were a bore

          Comment


          • #6
            You couldnt have just said "A short arse knob" could you? The fact remains that willie o dea is a DAMN sight better than his hatchet man publicity seaking predeccessor Michael smith(now there was a knob!) and yes,the chief of staff WAS out of line.Every soldier in the defence forces knows that you dont comment on anything to the media without clearance.Thats what press officers are for.As c.o.s he should and DID know better.
            As said he has nothing to loose as he retires shortly,thats why he did it!What you dont see is thst willie more than likely got a kick up the arse from bertie and dermot ahern as to why the chief of staff was allowed to make those comments!And in the finest traditions of the service the shit rolls downhill!
            "Let us be clear about three facts. First, all battles and all wars are won in the end by the infantryman. Secondly, the infantryman always bears the brunt. His casualties are heavier, he suffers greater extremes of discomfort and fatigue than the other arms. Thirdly, the art of the infantryman is less stereotyped and far harder to acquire in modern war than that of any other arm." ------- Field Marshall Wavell, April 1945.

            Comment


            • #7
              he should really wait till he leaves the DoD till he shouts his mouth off. But O Dea was a bit over the top with the warning.

              Comment


              • #8
                The fact remains that willie o dea is a DAMN sight better than his hatchet man publicity seaking predeccessor Michael smith(now there was a knob!)
                100% true- as one who had the pleasure of witing in the pissing rain when he made a stupid speech telling 600 odd of us going to the Leb how great eh secretary of the dept was and how lucky we were to have him-

                During the tea nad bums after wards he came over to chat to us the plebs and we all turned our backs and walked away muttering things that could have rhymed with merchant banker

                and yes,the chief of staff WAS out of line.
                Not just out of line but acting in an illegal manner- there is after all a section in the DFR prohibiting unauthorised communications with the press-

                who gets to march the COS in on his orders

                in all seriousness surely this shows the hyprocisy of the man in that this is the same man who sent a letter to all units prohibiting peopel posting shite on bebo and myspace etc

                yet he is quiet happy to pen an anrticle for the IT
                and no doubt pocket the few bob for soing so
                Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
                Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
                The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere***
                The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
                The best lack all conviction, while the worst
                Are full of passionate intensity.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Perhaps he is preparing for anticipated interviews when he is retired..

                  When serving as COS I said.......

                  Forward planning..........

                  Pity he did not open his mouth for the benifit of the DF earlier.....

                  He was renowed for his vocabulary to subordinates in earlier years...

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    hi there
                    ODea was pictured in one of the papers shaking the hand of a Lebanese Officer in front of a Guard of Honour.Honest ta jaysus, he looked like a slightly upmarket mingi man, with the crumpled suit and the big droopy soup-strainer. Could the DoD not find him a decent suit for going visiting? After all, if they can fund a biplane for the Don...
                    regards
                    GttC

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Surprising he wasn't wearing a shiney DPM smock too, or armoured vest, Like bertie usually does when he calls..


                      Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Being from Limerick, he probably has a "I'm too hard for that" mentality?!
                        "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Minister O ,dea never needs any protection like that.He is well liked and respected as an extremely hard working representative of the folks down here.You are more likely to bump into him walking around the town than to see him being whisked around in a state car with full escort.He seems to keep his feet on the ground from what i see.

                          p.s i am not even a fianna fail supporter to be able to say the above!
                          "Let us be clear about three facts. First, all battles and all wars are won in the end by the infantryman. Secondly, the infantryman always bears the brunt. His casualties are heavier, he suffers greater extremes of discomfort and fatigue than the other arms. Thirdly, the art of the infantryman is less stereotyped and far harder to acquire in modern war than that of any other arm." ------- Field Marshall Wavell, April 1945.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            He does get a begrudging respect from the populace in Limerick east for his accessability. He walks almost everywhere.


                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by apod View Post
                              Minister O ,dea never needs any protection like that.He is well liked and respected as an extremely hard working representative of the folks down here.You are more likely to bump into him walking around the town than to see him being whisked around in a state car with full escort.He seems to keep his feet on the ground from what i see.

                              p.s i am not even a fianna fail supporter to be able to say the above!
                              completely agree. Not afianna fail man but he really is a great minister. Always looking after the people around him.

                              Comment

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