Donald Trump has always pitted the strong against the weak, winner against loser. It is no surprise that he is backing Russia against Ukraine. However, basing his actions on blatant lies is more than reprehensible (“It takes twisted logic to blame the victim, but we’re in a new world now,” February 20). His schoolyard tactic of not inviting the Ukrainians to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia was a deliberate act of treachery. His accusation that Zelensky is a dictator refusing to hold a democratic election is a distortion of the facts. Sadly, with the exception of England and Sweden, the collectively clueless European leaders appear to quaking in fear of Trump and his lackeys. What hope is there for the free world if this man, hellbent on destruction, is allowed to continue unfettered. It’s time for NATO to take a stand. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Saudi Arabia to discuss the war in Ukraine.Credit: nna\riwood
There is some sense in the Trump/Vance position on Ukraine. Making Ukraine a member of NATO is a ridiculous option. If Ukraine is in NATO, it means every other member of NATO is effectively at war with Russia. So when the Russian bombers or missiles come over London and Paris, what will Starmer and Macron think then? Ukraine should be left as a neutral buffer state. Making Ukraine part of NATO and a member of the EU would be just as provocative as making Taiwan the 51st state of the USA. Bob Vinnicombe, Sefton
With Trump apparently going troppo, it’s time for the democracies of the world (including Australia), to get together and jointly speak out in support of Ukraine and President Zelensky. Surely there are enough level heads, especially in Europe, to counter the Trump/Putin duopoly. With Trump running the agenda, it is pleasing to see the British PM Keir Starmer publicly supporting Zelensky. Perhaps Starmer should be the one to rally the troops around him – and call out Trump’s open support for Putin. Trump’s accusation that Ukraine started the conflict with Russia goes way beyond the pale and should put him offside with all democracies. While Trump’s actions are wild and scary, the thing that is really scary is the US citizens’ reactions to all this – there is none. Stewart Copper, Maroubra
What is clear, as Trump promotes ever more chaos domestically and abroad (whether by design or accident), is that effectively challenging him will not be done by one-off statements or meetings. Trump has spent years campaigning his likes, dislikes and his agenda. Opposing him needs the same – a co-ordinated, prolonged campaign, multi-channelled and engaging, trumpeting the casualties and missteps Trump is causing, reminding the world what global leadership and respect looks like. Mark Sapsford, North Turramurra
Trump’s statement that Ukraine started the war with Russia is an egregious rewriting of history and a complete falsehood (“Trump launches attack on Zelensky, implies he stole from US”, February 20). Siding with the invader rather than the invaded does not bode well for upcoming peace talks. Neither does leaving Ukraine out of these talks. Trump demanding a fresh election in Ukraine could allow Russia to interfere with the results in certain regions of Ukraine with the purpose of installing a president sympathetic to Russian goals. Trump’s demands could even be interpreted as colluding with Russia. If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable. Leo Sorbello, West Ryde
After 80 years of relatively stable democracy, NATO and western Europe are under serious threat. Who would have thought that America, so-called leader of the free world, would be a disruptor of the delicate balance of world peace? When Donald Trump sees an opportunity to make money, morality and democracy are irrelevant. Bruce Spence, Balmain
At Gulargambone Primary in 1952, Donald, who always sat down the back of the demountable classroom, reckoned it was Poland that had invaded Germany a few years earlier. Donny was a bit of a skite, and a self-proclaimed “big thinker” (“Trump’s bizarre Ukraine tirade highly dangerous”, February 20). Philip Bell, Bronte
Uneasy lies the throne when madness wears a crown – or a MAGA cap. Allan Kreuiter, Roseville
I am beginning to think that the oft-repeated claim that Putin has in his possession highly embarrassing photos of Donald Trump may be true. Don Firth, Wooli
Hospital under scrutiny
The recent tragic death of two-year-old Joe Massa at Northern Beaches Hospital clearly demonstrates why overseas-owned companies such as Healthscope should not be running hospitals in Australia (“Sydney hospital under fire over death of two-year-old boy”, February 20). Such companies are only interested in profits to the detriment of healthcare. Further, Healthscope’s refusal to continue hospital stay arrangements with Bupa and 20 other healthcare insurers surely demonstrates their unsuitability to provide hospital and medical services in Australia. It is time governments stepped in and rectified this situation. Ian Roberts, Warriewood
Joe Massa’s heartbroken parents Elouise and Danny holding a pair of his shoes. Credit: Kate Geraghty
Nuclear sermon at alt-right gabfest
Your correspondents rightly point out the absurdity of Australia moving to nuclear power (Letters, February 20). But context is everything. Your article (“Trump’s energy chief wants us to go nuclear”, February 19) omitted to mention that the London conference that US energy secretary Chris Wright attended was held by the innocuous-sounding Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC), an ultra-conservative, alt-right Western alliance featuring psychologist, political commentator and incel favourite Jordan Peterson (“NSW Liberals skip parliament for Jordan Peterson’s London conference”, February 20). Simply put, ARC is on a mission to save Western Christian civilisation, with traditional marriage and large families vital to its survival. Net-zero is an “appalling act of wanton destruction” based on the “sinister myth” of climate change. I am confident that with the zeal of medieval crusaders, advisory board members John Howard, John Anderson, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Tony Abbott, Amanda Stoker, Andrew Hastie, a plethora of wealthy, well-connected Canadians, Britons, Americans and right-wing media, our “civilisation” will soon resemble Trump’s America. Lesley Walker, Glebe
The latest announcements and policies from the main and fringe parties from this country’s conservative side of politics make “interesting” reading. The MAGA mantra of slashing government waste, immigration cutbacks and gender control have been picked up with gusto by Coalition, One Nation and the newly announced Trumpet of Patriots (fetch me the Mylanta). As this side of politics also denigrates the teals, it’s time we called out these JOTB (jump on the bandwagon) groups. No originality, thought or sanity. David Corry, Como West
In the upcoming general election, there is a lesson to be learned from the events in America. The US, a country with the most powerful military force in the world, is being destroyed from within by a tawdry, mendacious, venal grifter. Think carefully who you vote for, especially politicians who express admiration for Trump and lie that they can fix the cost-of-living crisis. They would follow his lead in gutting essential services to provide tax breaks to the wealthy while disenfranchising the many. These people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Barrington Salter, Elanora (Qld)
Your correspondent’s call for a federal four-year term is not new. Such a change is well overdue (Letters, February 20). As it’s been said before, both major parties would welcome a four-year term; the only problem is that neither wants to be in opposition for more than three years. Brian Collins, Cronulla
Noisy parrots
It seems Clive Palmer has conveniently forgotten that those migrants – too many, he says – who “destroy our infrastructure, roads, schools and hospitals” are the very same people who are building our infrastructure and roads and are working and teaching in our schools and caring for patients in our hospitals (“Palmer targets Dutton in $90m MAGA-style pitch,” February 20). A trumpet of parrots would speak more economic sense. Jo Tuscano, Glebe
This stuff writes itself. Surely members of Clive Palmer’s new party, the Trumpet of Patriots, must be known as Trumpettes? Simon Hoyle, Cremorne
The emblem for Palmer’s new Trumpet of Patriots party needs to be super-charged. The Latin phrase beneath the trumpeting feline, “Honor omnia”, simply means “Honor (noun), everything”. The word “above” is missing from the middle. It should be “Honor super omnia”, maybe even “Honor omnia superat”, although Clive’s critics might interpret that in other ways. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
More to life than work
If Shane Wright believes that life is a productivity highway then I suggest that he pull over at a rest stop and reconsider the meaning of life (“Life is a (productivity) highway, and Australia is stuck in second gear”, February 20). When life is reduced to what we produce rather than caring for others, we are on a highway to hell. Sure, a high standard of living matters, but we already have that. Always wanting more is a sign of immaturity and unhappiness. Paul Casey, Callala Bay
Life is not only about being productive at work, writes one reader.Credit: Shutterstock
Being “smarter” may improve productivity, but that is an average across the entire economy. Unfortunately, increased productivity rarely leads to improved living standards for most. That increase is swallowed up by the wealthy and the super-wealthy, while a growing cohort live in their cars or under bridges and patronise soup kitchens. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls
Give taxpayers a break
The report by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute doesn’t go far enough (“Why taxpayers should buy back houses most at risk of natural disaster”, February 20). Climate adaptation, including buy-backs, should be funded by a levy on the coal and gas industries, not put back on the taxpayer. When voters are given a choice between the two options, a levy will be electorally popular. Rural and semi-rural areas require a different approach. People should be allowed to stay where they are with the understanding that they will have to bear some of the consequences of their decision. Novel strategies such as having a tiny house on wheels as one of the dwellings on the property, which can be towed by an average car, will make evacuation easier and provide a temporary home until it is safe to return. Building codes should be relaxed in places where it is clear that no structure will survive a natural disaster, so that rebuilding can be done as cheaply as possible. Frank Formby, West Moonah (Tas)
Musical fossil
So if there’s never been any T-Rex in primordial Australia, wouldn’t it be appropriate to rename our seven-metre apex predator, currently a megaraptorid, the INXSosaurus (“New fossil finding upends Victoria’s dino ecosystem”, February 20)? Andrew Cohen, Glebe
Trust our tradies
Correspondent John Elder seems afraid of Aussie tradies building nuclear power plants (Letters, February 20). Look around. Who do you think does excavations, formwork, steel fixing, concreting, fabrication, pipework, plumbing, electrical and final fit-out for any major or not-so-major projects? I hope he was being facetious. Terry Bourke, Maitland
Signals from China
The Chinese warships are not practising for the next Sydney to Hobart (“Chinese warships spotted 150 nautical miles from Sydney”, February 20). Nor have they strayed off course or just come to have a Captain Cook. It is some 4656 nautical miles, or 20-plus days sailing from Shanghai to Sydney. The sail-past is meant as a reminder. According to one source, the Chinese navy numbers about 350 vessels and more than 250,000 personnel, compared to our 50 or so vessels and 14,500 personnel. Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force is the largest army in the world. Wake up, Australia – our future is here today. James Athanasou, Maroubra
So how do we feel? We follow America by sending warships to the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait to intimidate China. Now Chinese warships have been spotted near Sydney and it’s headline news in Australia? Is that hypocritical? Paul Lau, Dolls Point
The Chinese navy has more than 250,000 personnel.Credit: Getty
The real terrors
Mike Burgess is worried that public confidence in AUKUS will be undermined by malicious state actors (“ASIO boss issues dire terror threat warning”, February 20). I think the US president is doing a marvellous job of undermining our confidence in the alliance on his own. How can we ally ourselves with a devious liar who makes false accusations against an ally, while allying himself with his ally’s aggressor? Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights
Mike Burgess neglects to reveal the names of foreign actors who wish their local critics physical harm. How, then, will I know which countries to avoid commenting on in my letters to the Herald? John Christie, Oatley
How long until Mike Burgess lists the economic and cultural sabotage being perpetrated by the USA against itself, Australia and many other nations, as a terror threat? Bill O’Donovan, Thirroul
Not so gentle
As an appropriate counter to the statement that Christianity is “the bulwark of Western civilisation” (Letters, February 20), I’d like to hear from the victims of clerical sexual abuse regarding their views on the “gentle” nature of this contentious topic. Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie
I would suggest your correspondent, Roger, brush up on his history of the Christian church. Multiple crusades against the Muslim world, people executed by monarchs for the crime of being the wrong kind of Christian, attempted genocide of the Irish by Cromwell for being Catholic, and violent inquisitions dominate this history. More recently, acts of terrorism perpetrated across the Western world by white Christian nationalists suggest that Christianity isn’t the “gentle bulwark of western civilisation” that many think it is. Sam Spence, Forest Lodge
On the topic of God, gods and man-made religions, we would be well advised to pause and consider the conclusions of notable philosophers on this subject. Sigmund Freud diagnosed religion as a neurotic illusion, Christopher Hitchens maintained religion poisons everything, Bertrand Russell stated that undoubtedly religious belief can lead to cruelty and perpetuate inhumanities. Richard Dawkins’ words are prescient: “When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion, it is called religion”. With Trump’s delusions over Gaza and Ukraine threatening world peace, now more than ever, secular humanism has a lot going for it as a better way of approaching life than any religion. Joy Nason, Mona Vale
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