Lying and dying

At the launch of the Defence White Paper in Government Buildings on Tuesday the following was overheard

At the launch of the Defence White Paper in Government Buildings on Tuesday the following was overheard. Journo to senior civil servant: "Wars happen when diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe them when they read them in print." SCS: "General Omar Bradley said that when generals retire they ought to hand in their tongues as well as their uniforms."

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter