Credit: Illustration: Megan Herbert
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THE WHITE HOUSE
In the light of the chilling “tag team” verbal thuggery directed at Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House, there can surely now be no doubt that the US president is, as the estimable former US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright characterised him in 2016, a “useful idiot” to the militarily resurgent Russian cause.
Donald Trump has now, arguably, become the 21st century’s version of a “Manchurian Candidate”, engaged effectively in what once would have been condemned in the US as treasonable conduct. Significantly, former US Republican congressional representative Liz Chaney yesterday described both the president and J.D. Vance in a post as “pro-Russian”.
Sadly, the masterful former KGB colonel, Vladimir Putin, has their measure. Europe and allies like Australia are on notice. His nostalgic Soviet Union-era yearnings are no longer fanciful. Nations like Georgia, Moldova and the former “Baltic states” are threatened existentially. Meanwhile, Hungary’s Viktor Orban plays the “fifth columnist” role in support of Moscow consummately. We are at a turning point in the Western world’s history.
Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
US no longer an ally, possibly an enemy
We watch with outrage as Trump piles horror upon sickening horror. That Americans have chosen to forgo their democracy for fascist kleptocracy is sad, but it was their right.
History shows how this will play out and, indeed, Trump has said openly that he will “fix things” so that Americans will no longer need to vote. America has cease d to be a reliable ally and may even become an opponent.
The commercial and security challenges that flow from this for Australia will be many and huge, requiring political leadership of a standard not seen in this country for many years. Look at our major parties. It is to my generation’s great shame that we have allowed the levers of political power to fall into the hands of the mediocre, self-serving and incompetent.
There has never been a greater need for younger generations to focus on the big picture, rise above sectarian and identity divisions, and organise politically to sweep away the old guard, finding leaders with the moral, intellectual and practical capability to guide the country through the very difficult decades ahead.
Barry Miskin, Essendon West
Time for Australia to disconnect from US
Has the “Free World” totally forgotten Alexei Navalny and his murder by the brutal Putin regime? Australia, a Commonwealth nation, continues to turn a blind eye to Trump’s dangerous ideas and his hero worship of Putin? Talk about commies under the bed, they are in the Oval Office!
Why aren’t our leaders and public shouting down Trump’s aggression and dangerous partnership with Putin? America wants to go it alone in Europe; let it, but it needs to go it alone in Asia as well.
No American bases on Australian soil until the leader of the US changes his tune towards Putin, tariffs and democracy. And let’s bring all our fleet home to Australian waters pronto.
Lee Touzeau, Golden Point
Art of European diplomacy
I beg to differ with your correspondent (Letters, ″Fawning leaders″, 2/3). Emmanuel Macron showed true diplomacy in the manner in which he virtually corrected Trump on facts. Trump chose not to pursue the issue further.
Keir Starmer had a surprise for Trump. He produced a letter from his pocket with an invitation from King Charles which Trump calmly accepted. Both leaders showed exceptional diplomacy that can only originate from Europe. They negotiate daily with their neighbouring countries. Have you ever met a European who only speaks one language?
Maree Williams, Kew
Melancholy world
America has abandoned Ukraine. Its fate now rests in the hands of Europe, that amorphous assemblage of nations motivated entirely by self-interest. Despite the avalanche of supportive rhetoric uttered by these people, let us see what effective resources will be offered. The only long-term meaningful support needed will be “boots on the ground”. Anything less is reinforcing failure and dragging out the misery.
I would be pleasantly surprised if there is even one fully equipped and supported soldier formally dispatched by any government from anywhere to fight with Ukraine against Russia. If such a catastrophic blunder is made, the world risks witnessing the fulfilment of Putin’s dream of extending Russian borders west to historic limits. He can then do the job properly and return into the fold those “stan” states to the south. Putin, the one and only supreme tsar!
This melancholy world has sunk to the stage where the law of the jungle prevails. Might is right. The best Ukraine can do to survive at all is to negotiate the best deal it can with Russia now. Ukraine will be seriously wounded, but not mortally.
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster
US expansionism
Is there a pattern emerging? By condoning the usurping of territory by the Russian and Israeli governments, among others, it would appear the US is clearing the way for similar claims on Greenland, Panama, and even Canada.
In doing so, the meaning of MAGA is morphing into Making America Gross, Actually.
Philip Bunn, Beechworth
Trump’s extortion
Jacqueline Maley’s “The macho men who bootlick Trump who show us what weakness looks like” (2/3), is scarily on point. The world is bearing witness to history in the making – the complete dismantlement of post-war order between allied nations under Trump’s chaos and brinkmanship.
Moreover, true to (oligarch) form, Trump’s posse of servile “weak men” with vested financial and commercial interests have been given authority to oversee key government institutions (despite obvious conflicts of interest), dismissing and discarding any dissenters in their path and applying a blowtorch to the public service.
Tragically, what is ultimately at stake is American citizens’ freedom, which is slipping rapidly courtesy of the con of the “two pillars: personal liberties and free markets”. Not to mention, world peace, in the balance under Trump’s new order of “flooding the zone” to keep everyone guessing.
Meanwhile, Australia’s and Europe’s leadership are walking on diplomatic tippy toes in a futile attempt not to trigger Trump whose rage was on full display following the failed meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office.
The latter of whom refused brokering a peace agreement with Russia based on extortion.
Jelena Rosic, Mornington
Hapless, gullible Zelensky
Why the pile-on for Trump? He was democratically elected. Perhaps it’s because Europe, the UK and Australia have been complacently feasting off American imperialism for years.
Critics should ask themselves what the previous charade of polite reassuring lies gave us? Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, the overthrow of democratically elected leaders in South America just for starters. And, more recently, the build-up of NATO with a view to taking over Ukraine, knowing that would be unacceptable to Russia.
The hapless and gullible Zelensky was pushed forward to start the proxy war, and Trump is perfectly sensible in wanting to end it and restore relations with Russia.
Trump is neither a politician nor a warmonger – he’s a deal maker who speaks his mind. He’s also a devious game-player. This can be horrifying, funny or enlightening, but it’s democracy in action, like it or not.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek
At Trump’s whims
Columnist Bruce Wolpe says there is no explicable basis for Donald Trump to punish Australia (Opinion, 2/3).
However, that may not be Trump’s view. He might see a nation which supports bodies and agreements such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
He might see a nation which is governed by a left-of-centre, progressive party. He might see a nation which does not seem to hold its greatest deal makers like Rupert Murdoch and Gina Rinehart in very high regard.
He might see a nation which has let its military forces run down on the assumption, like Europe, that America will help it in times of need and not be sufficiently grateful in return.
Donald Trump might see Australia as a place which doesn’t really align with his values, and so a nation that deserves no favours.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Naval weakness
Thank you, David Crowe for your insightful analysis of the problems for Australia as Donald Trump wields the wrecking ball on the traditional alliances (“This America is not our friend”, 1/3).
Most disturbing were his revelations on the woeful state of the Royal Australian Navy. It is shameful that both sides of politics have allowed this to occur since 2009 when Labor decided to replace a significant portion of the surface fleet. It will be more than 20 years after the decision was taken before they commence to enter service.
How our political masters can continue to bury their heads in the sand and mouth platitudes about everything being satisfactory, beggars belief.
Why are they not brave enough to admit that our defences are virtually non-existent and that it is not going to get better in the foreseeable future?
William Wallace, Ascot Park, SA
THE FORUM
Free speech
Speaking of the “Union of Soviet Socialist Suburbs” (Letters, “Moscow on the Yarra”, 1/3), autocratic planning regimes and silencing dissent – “We should not allow politicians, such as the Liberal state member for Brighton, James Newbury, to create division and fear at protests against the government’s plans,” wrote your correspondent.
Were it not for James Newbury, 2000 “Karens of Brighton” and far-flung residents’ groups marching in protest, most people would not have a clue about Labor’s plans until six, 12 or 24-storey blocks of flats pop up next door.
Should we also silence Professor Michael Buxton, Brad Rowswell (Liberal, Sandringham) and others after speaking at public forums and listening to the common people’s SRL concerns?
What of Liberal candidate for Kooyong, Amelia Hamer, lest she mention Sir Rupert Hamer’s Garden State of Victoria?
Let alone the Tim Wilson quote: “Bringing national population growth down to a sustainable level to ensure infrastructure and housing can keep pace” – Heresy!
Ronald Elliott, Sandringham
Stop the spread
Your correspondent (Letters, ″Backyards are better″, 2/3) suggests that families need to live in single houses with backyards. I first travelled to Europe over 40 years ago and was struck then by the housing arrangements of families – apartment blocks often have retail and commercial premises on the ground floor, and are near public transport. European children seem to flourish in these conditions, keeping dogs and cats in their apartments, and can grow into excellent athletes.
Individual houses with big backyards may have suited Australians in the latter part of last century, but to continue this will lead to our cities encompassing enormous geographical spread with lack of services. It is time to embrace a different European-style residential norm. I would choose to live in a well-designed apartment if the alternative were a house 40 kilometres from the CBD.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster
Environment comes last
Now I see why the Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos has allowed the Level Crossings Removal Project and its construction partner Acciona to knock down virtually all of the remnant coast banksia woodland in Groves Reserve, Aspendale. And is not replying to our letters seeking his intervention, nor to letters from state transport and planning ministers and local MHR Mark Dreyfus, KC.
Dimopoulos is also not stopping the clearing of the forest giants in the Central Highlands that are habitat for the 4000 remaining Leadbeater’s possums, and other species more endangered than the microbats and birds that lived on our 2.9-hectare council conservation reserve, donated to the City of Chelsea 100 years ago by the first mayor of Carrum, Frank Groves (″Flaying possum: how our state emblem is being made homeless‴, 2/3).
The destruction of the largest remaining coast banksia woodland in Kingston to make way for a shared-use path and services for a level crossing removal must seem trivial by comparison. Even if Mordialloc is now, post-Werribee, a marginal electorate.
But pictures of our local moonscaped nature reserve will stand alongside pictures of giant stumps that pre-dated white settlement to show how this government values our environment.
Rosemary West, Edithvale
Baby Boomers’ long wait
Re “Where there’s a will” (Good Weekend, 1/3) regarding children of Baby Boomers waiting for their inheritance and subsequently fighting.
Many Baby Boomers are also waiting for their inheritance. My husband is 70, and his father just died at the age of 98. My brother and me, 69 and 63 respectively, have both our parents still alive and independent.
The wait for the next generation might be a long time.
Tracy Lees, Bendigo
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump’s new order
So, this is what America looks like when it’s great, eh?
Mark Morrison, Kew
Dear US citizens: So sorry, but you can’t say you weren’t warned about having an unashamedly dishonest megalomaniac and convicted felon as your
leader.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
What is so difficult to understand about the statement: “Russia is the aggressor in the Russia/Ukraine war”?
Alistair Maule, Ballarat Central
Watching Trump and Vance talk to President Zelensky exposed them once again as what we already knew – schoolyard bullies.
Paul Thomas, Essendon
Who would ever trust America again after Trump’s display at the White House? Trump is definitely Putin’s lapdog.
Pauline Ashton, Maribyrnong
Volodymyr Zelensky has been standing up to and fighting a bully for the last three years. Did Donald Trump really expect he was about to kowtow to another?
Dan McGlade, Barwon Heads
Given how Trump has cosied up with Putin and Russia over Ukraine, all I can say is: Taiwan, you’re on your own.
Bruce Crowe, Sunbury
Putin’s puppet has now revealed to us the true meaning of MAGA: Make America Gutless Again.
Stephen Love, Portarlington
If Donald won’t give Ukraine security guarantees in exchange for its rare earths and minerals, I reckon Xi would.
Jeff Moran, Bacchus Marsh
Shouldn’t be long before Andrew Tate gets a role in Trump’s new administration. Secretary for human rights and female equality?
Dean Virgin, Strathmore
If I help someone in trouble or donate to a charity, I don’t expect anything in return. It seems now that the US expects a return from providing military support to Ukraine. I hope Australia understands this new deal.
Polly Mish, Hawthorn
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