There is a fundamental difference between understanding fear, and stoking it for political motives, writes Fergus Finlay

A round-up of this morning’s top news.

Australia’s gaffe-prone prime minister took back his second Nazi-related comment in a month after he compared the opposition party leader to German World War II-era propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

Timur Vermes

Rochus Misch, who served as Adolf Hitler’s devoted bodyguard for most of the Second World War and was the last remaining witness to the Nazi leader’s final hours in his Berlin bunker, has died. He was 96.

Tomi Ungerer’s journey from top US illustrator to a quiet life in Bantry is a fascinating tale, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

The love letters, school papers, and dramatic works of a college-age Joseph Goebbels reveal a romantic young man beginning to show signs of anti-Semitism and egotistical behaviour, according to a Connecticut auction house selling the pre-war writings of Adolf Hitler’s propaganda chief.

IN his letter (June 3), Patrick Geaney professes himself “sickened” by Foreign Minister Micheál Martin’s statements on the Gaza aid flotilla attack. Who could be sickened by mere words of mild censure, yet finds nothing to say about civilians being shot dead?

SURELY not only the usual suspects but the public generally should be enraged by the fact that virtually the whole population, apart from a handful of very wealthy people, are going to have to pay in one way or another the huge cost of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank.

THE infamous “big lie” quote from Joseph Goebbels had a haunting resonance in Ireland on March 30, 2010 – a day that will live in infamy.

SINN FÉIN’S justice spokesman has refused to apologise for comments made about the Israeli ambassador and has reiterated his comparison of the diplomat’s remarks to those of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebells.

A senior Sinn Féin politician today compared Ireland’s only Jewish TD and the Israeli ambassador to a notorious Nazi propagandist.

SOME pre-negotiation jabbing turned into a potentially damaging diplomatic incident when Brazil’s foreign minister said rich countries’ deception in trade talks reminded him of tactics used by Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

YOU quote Michael McDowell (Irish Examiner, April 5) accusing Enda Kenny in the Dáil of having a “bad hair day”.

THE defence of Pius XII by Fr Con McGillicuddy (Irish Examiner letters, October 12) ignores the contrast in the Pope’s behaviour as between Hitler and Stalin.

I THINK the PD leadership change is a backward step. Mary Harney was a splendid role model for increased women’s representation in public life. She is a politician of intelligence, integrity and moral courage.

WHETHER he is banning minors from pubs, changing the drinking laws, deporting Nigerian students, or smearing a Fine Gael spokesman as Dr Goebbels, Justice Michael McDowell is never far from controversy.

RICHARD BRUTON’S smile as he was shaking hands with Justice Minister Michael McDowell outside Leinster House in Dublin this week was understandable.

SOON Michael McDowell will run out of Nazi and communist comparisons for the sinister forces lined up against him.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell crossed the floor of the Dáil yesterday to shake hands with Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton, a day after comparing him to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

OPPOSITION parties angrily rounded on Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday after he compared Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton to the notorious Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels during a row over the level of garda resources in Dublin.

Dan Buckley