We do overuse the SAS, but victory in Afghanistan was not the true objective

The article featuring Mark Wales (7/9) focused on Australia’s political failure of over-reliance on special forces during combat operations in Afghanistan. This misses the point that our commitment to Afghanistan was primarily a moral one. The idea we were there to win is fanciful.

We were there to make a difference while we could, and we did. That the wafer-deep moral reserve of our political leaders would evaporate, initiating an undignified scramble for the exit was always on the cards.

But the issue of our over-reliance on special forces remains critically under-reported and hence not appreciated with the clarity it should be by the public.

JF Barlow, Nakara, NT

Tearing down Tony

Thank you Jennifer Oriel for your article on Tony Abbott (“The truth hurts for women who hate Abbott”, 7/9). Abbott is not a homophobic misogynist — far from it as his sister, wife and daughters attest. He’s an Australian bloke of great talent who, like all of us, has opinions that not everyone agrees with.

There was a time when the left of politics had a true purpose as the voice for the working class. Today it has disintegrated into a woke form of society who rather than support their constituents spend their time attacking the person and not the policies of their opponents.

Is it not about time that society started to mature and get back to focusing on real issues? We face significant challenges which won’t be resolved though these sorts of tactics.

Ian C Murray, Cremorne Point, NSW

Body of law

Sporting clubs were last year provided with advice from Sport Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission that suggested the law requires clubs to administer sport on the basis of a “person’s affirmed gender identity and not the sex they were assigned at birth” (“Cops go with the flow on ‘fluid gender’, 5/9).

Sports clubs and administrators were warned they risk legal consequences if they operate women’s or men’s sporting competition on the basis of sex.

The Sex Discrimination Act clearly provides for any competitive sport in which strength, stamina and physique is relevant to be operated on the basis of sex. This would include the vast majority of sports, both at a local level right through to elite competition.

World Rugby has recently undertaken a process of speaking to biologists, sport scientists and doctors to establish the science behind male advantage over females in sport. Unsurprisingly, the science says that those who have been through male puberty have significant advantages in mass, power, speed and strength when compared to female athletes.

If Sport Australia and the AHRC aren’t going to pay any attention to the science, they must at the very least pay attention to the law, which respects the division of men’s and women’s sport to allow everyone to compete on a level playing field.

Senator Claire Chandler, Hobart, Tasmania

Words matter

Greg Sheridan’s column (“Trump a tough but rewarding subject”, 7/2) is well argued, save that I disagree Mr Trump’s actions should be regarded as more important than his words.

Mr Trump’s condemnation of war veterans and Senator John McCain is a step too far. His treatment of immigrants, the unemployed and people of colour has been devoid of any empathy. His nepotism and breaches of standards show a disregard for the rule of law.

His treatment of former employees, WHO, and the UN all demonstrate a willingness to conduct his presidency without regard for established norms.

Gordon Pelletier, Sancrox, NSW