Trump’s cronies are just as dangerous as Iran’s ‘fanatics’

There are undoubtedly fanatics in the Iranian regime, but what about the Trump mob (“Trump’s made so many blunders with this Iran war. But his next mistake could be his biggest”, April 6)? Pete Hegseth, the “secretary of war” as he prefers to be called, has a tattoo with the words “Deus Vult” – God Wills It – the battle cry of the first crusade in 1096. He also has asked Americans to “pray on bended knees” for victory in the current conflict, and compared the rescue of a downed American pilot in Iran to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, something many Christians would find offensive, if not outright blasphemous. When both sides of a conflict are managed by fanatics, I despair of a quick resolution. Bill Tango, Manly

The conflict in Iran is the responsibility of a reckless American leadership that chose to dismiss the advice of military professionals, preferring the guidance of evangelicals who see the Middle East conflict as God’s divine plan. Religion is increasingly being invoked by irresponsible leaders to justify slaughter and mayhem. Australia needs to decide just how far we intend to involve ourselves with these sickening moves in world politics. To continue to pour money into indulgences such as AUKUS is madness. Bruce Spence, Balmain

Much is said about the need for community cohesion these days. One thing that certainly seems to unite people is their opinion of US President Donald Trump, who has inadvertently become a bonding mechanism across religious, socio-economic, educational, cultural and city/country divides. I have yet to meet a single person who doesn’t refer to him as mad, a nut job, a sociopath, a malignant narcissist or the like. A homeless man in a Parramatta park recently regaled me with a Trump joke, and it occurred to me that the US president had become a natural point of agreement for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. Perhaps that is the one thing that we should thank him for. Maureen Partridge Baulkham Hills

When Bernie Sanders and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who represent opposite ends of America’s political spectrum, united in their views and publicly stated that Donald Trump “has gone insane” (Greene), “is mentally unbalanced”(Sanders), and their views were supported by Senator Chuck Schumer’s comment about “an unhinged madman”, surely Speaker Mike Johnson and Congress will realise that this nuclear-enabled president is more of a danger to the world than Iran could ever be. A person who has so little self-control even over his own speech cannot be trusted with the lives of thousands of servicemen and women, never mind de-escalating his own pointless war. It’s time for Congress to call a cabinet meeting, remove Trump and appoint a leader with vision and substance. Helen Cameron, Wollstonecroft

Donald Trump reminds me of a boss we used to have. It was said that if you wanted a quick answer, you’d ask him. If you wanted a well-considered answer, you’d ask his offsider. If you wanted a second opinion, you’d ask the boss again. Mike Bush, Port Macquarie

China plays long game

Peter Hartcher refers to China’s “energy rice bowl” as a metaphor for its foresight in accumulating sufficient oil and other energy stocks to last it through an emergency (“China’s been very quiet during Trump’s Iran war. There’s a good reason for that”, April 7). The expression is a reference to Chairman Mao’s “iron rice bowl”, which guaranteed not only energy self-sufficiency but, in classic Chinese communist practice, lifelong job security, housing, food supply, income and extensive social benefits, none of which exist in the US. Unlike China, Trump’s America has typically focused on making war at the expense of those least able to afford it, providing enormous profits for the billionaire supplicants that surround him, but without factoring in the negative consequences now facing the world. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

China has always been quite open about its end goal regarding Taiwan. The situation in the Middle East could easily tip the scale in favour of Chinese action, starting with a blockade of the island nation. Turning to our role, Australia must strenuously avoid any military involvement in helping the US defend Taiwan. It’s therefore time to seriously review AUKUS, under which we will be expected to join America in any future military operation. Unfortunately, the likelihood of Australia changing its mind on the subs deal is zero at present. Bob Konig, Shell Cove

Peter Hartcher highlights China’s patience and planning in the energy realm, it’s stockpiling and sharing with neighbours and its generally stable approach to international affairs. This is in total contrast to the US, which is acting like a bull in a china shop. Donald Green, Cobargo

Peter Hartcher notes that China has kept a low profile since Trump’s war on Iran began. Perhaps Beijing is heeding Napoleon’s dictum: “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba

Relief at last

The relief felt by the crew of Artemis II must have been huge when they received the all clear for their recalcitrant zero-gravity toilet. This could have been a crisis comparable to the Apollo 13 mission, requiring a dash back to Earth in deeply uncomfortable conditions requiring superhuman self-control. Aidan Moore, Melba (ACT)

I can’t believe that an ultra-high-tech piece of equipment such as the Artemis II space capsule doesn’t have a “plumber’s mate” in the tool box. Rob Venables, Bermagui

NDIS exploited

The NDIS has become someone’s folly. Bill Shorten tried but failed. This monster must be curtailed (“Two Labor MPs – both of them doctors – say the NDIS must be redesigned”, April 7). As a GP, I see many people accessing services that they perhaps shouldn’t, yet some advanced cancer patients struggle to get the support they so desperately need. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, but no one wants to pay the taxes to sustain the system. Like Medicare, the design of the scheme allows it to be exploited by people with a faulty moral compass. A thorough review by user representatives and the government is urgently required. Ashley Berry, Wollongong

Unscrupulous providers using the NDIS for their own benefit was always going to happen. Astute politicians should have foreseen this, but they didn’t. It was also totally predictable that NAPLAN would lead to many schools “teaching to the test” rather than providing genuine education. Our politicians missed this as well. Simon O’Brien, Rushcutters Bay

Sing a song

If you struggle to make friends at uni I have a suggestion – join the choir. It worked for me (“Leanne is finding it difficult to make friends at uni. She’s not alone”, April 7). Even if you don’t sing well, you’ll learn and you can just open your mouth and look the part if there’s a note you can’t reach. Sydney Uni Musical Society was a great place to make friends. We sang in intervarsity concerts and even got together at Christmas and sang at all the coffee shops in Kings Cross. One owner provided pancakes and coffee. It opened up for me not only friendships but a cornucopia of beautiful music I’d never experienced before. We had a lot of fun. Best wishes, Leanne. Pat Manser, Padstow Heights

Energy devolution

Angus Taylor says “we must dig, and we must drill” (“War drives need for self-sufficiency”, April 7). Must we? Over decades senior Coalition figures, including Taylor, oversaw the closing of all but two of our oil refineries as it was far cheaper to import oil. Despite repeated warnings from security analysts, there was no planning for contingencies like supply chain disruption. Now Taylor and others are advocating a plan for home-grown oil which would require heavy subsidies and years to deliver. Not a word about shifting to electric vehicles, nor an acknowledgement of the Coalition’s damaging misinformation campaign about EVs and spoiled weekends. Such is their ideologically induced blindness that they would advocate for an expansion of fossil fuel exploration, nuclear power and hydrogen cars before conceding that renewables are the best option. Meanwhile, climate change has disappeared from the headlines but is accelerating nevertheless. Fiona Colin, Malvern East (Vic)

We all recall the pillory that Bill Shorten and Labor experienced at the hands of the Coalition in the lead-up to the 2019 election. “EVs will be the death of the long weekend,” was proclaimed loud and long to anyone who would listen. I would like to imagine that Bill Shorten has just returned from a lovely Easter long weekend in an EV while many in traditional fuel powered cars didn’t dare to venture far from home. David Sargeant, Ilkley (Qld)

Downside of data

I have no doubt that Atlassian’s billionaire founder Scott Farquhar is happy for Australia to be exporting megawatts as megabytes, provided he is not personally exposed to the blight of them from his humble abode. For those of us now trying to fight our third data centre development, situated directly adjacent to homes and playing fields, with an almost three-year excavation and construction time, not to mention ongoing noise, pollution and visual impacts, we have had enough. Three centres within 700 metres of residential areas. I think in this case the NIMBYs are the people who won’t have them in their backyards. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Return to sender

On December 2, I posted a Christmas card to my cousin who lives in Tehran. On Thursday, April 2 it was returned to me with a sticker stating “Dispatches temporarily suspended due to dispute in the Middle East”. I must infer that either Australia Post failed to get the card out of the country in the intervening four months, or they had incredible foresight regarding the intentions of the US/Israeli alliance. Remarkable, either way! Fiona Igoe, Northwood

Grand plans

It’s hard not to despair about the future of Victoria Barracks, yet another precious piece of Australia’s heritage that is under threat of ruination (“The bold vision to turn Victoria Barracks into Sydney’s ‘next great public place’”, April 7). Having had a long career closely linked to the predations of the development and construction industry, it was difficult not to smile about the eye-candy concepts floated for the barracks. Such concepts are stock-in-trade fishing lures used to tempt and engage naive clients (and lazy politicians) and mollify the public into embracing projects and developments. Nearly always there is a huge gulf between flashy concept and project realisation, and it’s invariably an unhappy result for the client. You only need to look at most of the cities around Australia, which bear the scars of “progressive” politicians. Precious heritage buildings and sites have all but disappeared or at best been compromised in the name of progress. Victoria Barracks is an important part of Sydney’s and Australia’s heritage and its value belongs to our citizens. McDonald’s and luxury apartments should not be the future of this heritage site. Alan Egan, Paddington (Qld)

Friendly stranger

Your story on Macdonaldtown station portrays very well the sense of desolation and solitude one can feel standing in wait on its only platform (“Alight here for nowhere”, April 5). When we were still teenagers, my wife and I moved into a flat adjacent to the station in 1972. Each morning I would run to the station for a train to Central. On most days about that time my dear old Aunty Claire would be coming through on her way to work on a crowded express from Parramatta and, if she could see me standing on the platform, would wave furiously to me from her window seat while speeding past. Naturally, I could do nothing but wave back to her. How bizarre it must have looked to all the other passengers to see a solitary figure on the platform apparently waving to them all as they passed by. I treasure that memory of Macdonaldtown and my loving aunt. Mark Stack, North Curl Curl

Roberts-Smith arrest

It is a relief that Australia is honouring its international obligation to prosecute allegations of war crimes by our soldiers. The Office of the Special Investigator has done its job. Roberts-Smith now has the right to a trial by his peers, the jury (“Ben Roberts-Smith charged with multiple war crimes”, April 7). Anne Eagar, Epping

Standing room only

You realise the petrol price is hurting consumers when, for the first time, you stand from Gosford to Hornsby on a 10-car train bursting with passengers and their luggage. Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

Trigonometry lecture

Jeremy Brenner, please tell me the Pope can lecture Trump on sin – cos he can (Letters, April 7). Phil Armour, Yass

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