Last Post: Presidents, soldiers and the comfort of crosswords

I suggest it is not for those of us who were not there to exhibit righteous indignation or sit in judgment on reportedly errant soldiers in Afghanistan, any more than it would be appropriate to judge behaviour in locations of abnormal intensity such as Dachau or Changi (“War atrocities to shock a nation”, 13/11).

Keith Cleland, Armidale, NSW

We sent special forces to Afghanistan — three or four or more times. A very hostile and stressful environment with no clear friends and never knowing if the local guy next to you would turn his gun on you. Now we intend, from the safety of home, to criticise the guys we sent, some of whom were killed. Leave the diggers alone. Any misdeeds should have been handled on the spot, not five years later.

Brian C. Povey, Churchlands, WA

The federal government should change its name to the TBC — Their Broadcasting Corporation.

Paul Raffaele, Leichhardt, NSW

Further to the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln (Last Post, 13/11), in his Gettysburg Address he said “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”. By refusing to accept the election result Donald Trump seems to question this core principle of democratic legitimacy.

Robert Tulip, Fraser, ACT

Joe Biden ought to join with Donald Trump in a thorough review of the US election results. Surely, Biden wouldn’t like to assume a presidency that may prove later to have been gained illegally. Would he?

Jean Campbell, Atherton, Qld

To be sure, it’s unbecoming to refuse to concede, but Donald Trump has never done what is expected. He challenges the norm and that can be good. Just because “it has always been done that way” doesn’t make it right.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW

If our former PMs Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull are bitter about their lack of relevance and imagined betrayals (Last Post, 13/11), perhaps they could take a lesson from Jimmy Carter. Carter will never be regarded as a great president but his devotion over decades to humanity, particularly the homeless, mark him as a great man. Rudd and Turnbull are rich men. Instead of ranting at an indifferent public and media they could use their undoubted skills to help the disadvantaged in our community.

Chris Blanch, Brisbane, Qld

Ah, I always know when the world is looking good because the crossword moves back to the front section of the paper and calm reigns once again in our household.

Beverley Roberts, Port Melbourne, Vic