Trump's military parade is out of step with reality

Sydney Morning Herald

10 hours ago

I was staggered by the sight of Donald Trump saluting the US military as they passed him in a parade supposedly celebrating the US armed forces (' Trump celebrates birthday with grand military parade ', June 14). The hypocrisy of a person who avoided the Vietnam War draft when his father got some dodgy doctor to say Donald had 'heel spurs' is remarkable. Trump's hide in even turning up for this parade, in my mind, was the ultimate insult to American servicemen and women. This is the person who stood in an American war cemetery above the D-Day beaches and called those buried there 'losers and suckers'. Perhaps the fact that so many of the marching troops were hopelessly out of step as they passed Trump was their way of protesting. Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera
As a retired Australian serviceman who served in Vietnam alongside the US forces, may I say how disgusted I was by the so-called 'parade' of current US Army troops 'marching' in Washington today. I have never seen a worse, more dejected, poorly trained, slump-shouldered group, except perhaps a gang of condemned prisoners. They were a disgrace to themselves and their country. On the other hand, I salute the people of LA and other US cities who are refusing to kowtow to the dictator in the White House. If they overcome the current tyranny, perhaps the US can again claim to be 'the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave'. Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale
Perhaps some more billions could have been spent to get the troops to march in step. The armies of Russia, China and North Korea will play repeats of Trump's parade to display the lack of discipline in the 'Great Marines'. I imagine that even top UK regiments will replace the breakfast News with this show as entertainment ahead of the magnificent parades for King Charles. Wolf Kempa, Lithgow
The United States may have military capabilities that far outweigh the potential of 'little Britain', but a comparison of their foot soldiers reveals a significant difference. At the weekend, television images of the Washington parade showed American soldiers sauntering along as if they were out for an afternoon stroll, while images of a parade in London showcased the UK military's discipline and precision. Perhaps Trump's lack of discipline is being reflected in the nation's military. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
He managed to avoid service himself but presided over a parade in which soldiers appeared to be strolling casually down Constitution Avenue. The same man recently set military forces against his own citizens. Meanwhile, a world-threatening situation has developed in the Middle East. Something is not quite right here. Bill Forbes, Medowie
Trump's military parade is, I think, a poor imitation of those by dictators Putin, Kim, Hitler and Mussolini. John Harris, Goulburn
Point-scoring fails
Does Angus Taylor really believe that if a meeting between Anthony Albanese and Trump does not occur at the G7 it will be the fault of Albanese and not the capriciousness and malignity of Trump (' Taylor targets Albanese over Trump meeting', June 14)? The Liberal Party will not recover when point scoring is prioritised over truth. Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie
Coalition parliamentarians are everywhere in the 'old' media of late. Doesn't anybody else want to be interviewed? They have been delivering loud opinions on everything and anything, enough to make you think they are in government. They're not. Ninety-four Labor seats say so. Labor won by shifting away from traditional media outlets to talk to a different crowd. Political interviews from Coalition has-beens are irrelevant, hence the demise of many political panel shows. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill
Nuclear balance sheet
Israel has between 90 and 400 nuclear warheads. The actual number is uncertain due a lack of transparency by the Israeli state (' Israel strikes Iran nuclear facilities ', June 14). This is a deliberate policy of nuclear ambiguity by Israel, something no other nation is allowed to get away with. The country has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The US has never formally acknowledged the existence of Israel's nuclear weapons, allowing it to keep supplying arms and aid to Israel. Yet despite the world knowing of Israel's arsenal, Israel refuses to countenance Iran possessing such weapons, describing them as an existential threat. Whatever our views of Israel or Iran, the question of why it is considered acceptable for one nation to possess nuclear weapons but not another needs urgent examining in light of Israel's latest air strikes on Iran. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)
It's difficult to comprehend the reason for Israel's attacks. The country has between 90 and 400 nuclear weapons, produced in its nuclear facilities in Dimona since the late 1960s. However, it consistently attacks Iran's nuclear facilities although Iran does not have a single nuclear weapon. This maintains a major strategic imbalance of power in the Middle East. The balance of power in the West arose from both US and the Soviet Union having roughly equal numbers of nuclear weapons. Israel has also refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, putting it at odds with other nuclear powers in the West and the Indian subcontinent. Martin Walton, Upper Kedron (Qld)
With backing from the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues a devastating assault on Gaza. Now US President Donald Trump, frustrated by the lack of progress in talks with Iran, has turned to Netanyahu as a proxy, unleashing strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. These attacks have killed a number of Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders. Iran obviously had no option but to strike back. This is a dangerous escalation with far-reaching consequences. If regional powers join in, the conflict could quickly morph into a broader and uncontrollable crisis in the Middle East and beyond. For the sake of the world, let us hope sane decisions will prevail to de-escalate this dangerous situation. Bipin Johri, Epping
Israel's excuse for attacking Iran is a bit rich. It has told the world that Iran is ready to launch nuclear warheads, despite the US director of national intelligence telling the Senate in March 2025 that the US intelligence community had assessed that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program. This has all the hallmarks of George W. Bush's weapons of mass destruction lie, which started the Iraqi war in 2003. Western nations, including Australia, should demand Israel stops attacking countries on rumours and innuendo and start providing verifiable evidence. It seems to me that Iran has every right to demand nuclear weapons to stop Israel attacking it with no evidence. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
We are assured that our embassy staff in Tel Aviv and Tehran are safe, or as safe as can be with rockets raining down. Which begs the question of why they are there at all. Why are our diplomats put at risk in Iran, a known supporter of terrorists, and Israel, which is currently committing atrocities against Palestinian civilians? Their withdrawal would send a strong message of Australian dissent. Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt
Here we go again: the world's ego-tripping military, political and religious leaders are getting their jollies around the war tables by sending more death and destruction to the citizens of this planet. Isn't it time they paid a high price for their insane prejudices, dogmas and actions? We have to find a way to neutralise these rogues before their murderous agendas are played out. Dave Watts, Avalon
Why does Israel not allow any international news agencies into Gaza? That's a clear sign that they're breaking international laws. Vera Yee, Waverton
Fighting words
Perhaps the most significant sentence in all the thousands that have been written about AUKUS and our foreign policy agenda is contained in Peter Hartcher's piece (' To defend itself, Australia mustn't kowtow to its rivals. Or its allies ', June 14) – 'with or without AUKUS, Australia's priority should be to prepare itself to stand on its own'. Peter Thomas, Rose Bay
Actually, Peter Hartcher (and other dreamers), I'm sure what most Australians want the PM to do in any defence-spending chats is to stop swaggering, as in, 'we'll spend what we see fit on defence, not what another country tells us to spend'. That's all fine and dandy if you're holding the whip hand, but not very smart when you're requesting a guarantee on a possible need for future defence support. When the ally you want at the party spends $997 billion a year on defence, while you're spending about $53 billion, it's best to have your cap somewhere near your hand. It's called a facing reality moment. Rosemary O'Brien, Ashfield
Defence procurement by successive governments of Australia has been abysmal (' AUKUS is a disaster for Australia. Trump has given us an out – let's take it ', June 13). Second-hand Abrams tanks, Sea King helicopters, clunking submarines, all of which never fired an angry shot even when at war in Afghanistan. The Hunter-class frigate program is seven years behind schedule and has limited firepower. We now have the ludicrous purchase of second-hand nuclear-powered submarines, which may never eventuate but if they do will probably be superseded by drone technology in the air and sea. If we wish to build our defences quickly, we should look towards Europe and Japan for reliable supply, on time and on budget. Greg Thomas, Annandale
Despite our ridicule, perhaps Trump is a master negotiator. His tariffs cause world chaos, and nations flock to appease him. He rattles our cage with a shallow AUKUS review, and we rush to sweeten the deal to support his 'America First' agenda. Peter Hill, East Ballina
In an increasingly volatile world, young Australians are urged to choose a career in our armed forces. Wouldn't it be more proactive, and make more sense, to urge a career in our diplomatic corps? John Black, Anna Bay
Glover's pick-me-up
Richard Glover's column in Spectrum was just what the doctor ordered (' I had a car accident the other day. It couldn't have gone any better ', June 13). I picked up the paper this weekend thinking 'I find it too hard to read the paper now, always bad news about wars.' Then I read Richard's column and it brightened up my day. So thank you, Richard. Roslynne Hunt, Riverview
While I am a devout follower of Richard Glover (and Clancy), I must take issue with a few words in Richard's latest column that 'we tend to think crime is getting worse when the opposite is true'. I think, Richard, you might have fallen into one of the holes Clancy has dug in your backyard if you really believe this. While I, too, thankfully have had many of the positive experiences with other people that you have mentioned, crime is most definitely increasing and becoming more violent in our country. We would be foolish to take our eyes off Clancy's ball and believe otherwise (as much as I would like to). Christine Helby, Forbes
As each day brings the world closer to going to hell in a handbasket, I find a smile on my face and a renewed pleasure in life on reading Richard Glover's column, and Saturday's was no exception. Thank you, Richard, and please keep writing. Kathryn Lai, Heathcote
Old gold
Listen up ABC, you belong to the older generation. Forget trying to entice the really young ones; they have plenty to choose from on the internet. You don't do funny well, so forget trying to amuse us with spelling bees and silly game shows. We like your newsreaders, sensible commentary, 7.30 and the National Press Club coverage. We love the restoration shows, wildlife and Landline. We like old-fashioned sitcoms. The Piano was lovely, so well done. How about the odd symphony concert or some fabulous jazz? Oh, to have another Michael Parkinson. Please find one. We like to feel some things stay the same when the world is on fire and crashing about our ears. Stay with what you do well. You must know it keeps us sane. Jill Power, Narrabeen
Nice work
Riches abound as a contractor for government bodies (' Manning tells ICAC he ought to have disclosed friendship', June 14). One contractor was paid $1920 a day just to review the school building procurement policy. Poor old PM Albo only gets $1608 a day. Rather than focus on individuals, a review of the hiring policy for contractors would serve us better. It seems the frequent calls by governments to cut back-room public service jobs was unwise. Who'd have thought? Paul Doyle, Glenbrook
Funny money
The cartoon with Millie Muroi's article about 'good debt' and 'bad debt' sums it up best (' Canberra can print more money – so, why can't it keep borrowing? ', June 14). If government buys current account items, they must be paid for through taxation – that's good fiscal policy. It's also good fiscal policy to borrow funds to spend on useful things, such as essential infrastructure and durable assets. This century, Commonwealth net debt has burgeoned from zero to a rather gigantic sum, and regrettably there's not much to show for it. Borrowing by printing money is a banana republic approach that relies on inflation to bring debt ratios under control. Already the government benefits from our wishy-washy 2 to 3 per cent a year target for inflation. The Swiss reckon they can keep it no higher than 1 per cent a year. Mike Bush, Port Macquarie
Oceans of hope
Thank you, Caitlin Fitzsimmons (' The simple fixes that have saved the lives of sea lions and turtles', 14 June) for drawing attention to David Attenborough's documentary Ocean, arguably his most powerful production in his nearly 100 years on earth, in terms of the triumph of hope over despair at the destructive power of us humans. It is to be hoped Environment Minister Murray Watt, who attended the UN Oceans Conference in Paris last week, had viewed the never-before-seen footage of bottom-trawling techniques, which surely would have given him impetus to legislate for more sustainable seafood-harvesting globally and stem the terrible tide of industrial fishing. Undoubtedly, Attenborough himself would agree with Fitzsimmons – simple fixes can save marine life. Joy Nason, Mona Vale
True childcare reform
It's encouraging to see debate about how we improve access to early childhood education and care (' I'm a working mum. Here's why I oppose Labor's universal childcare', June 13) . But let's be clear, the Productivity Commission's report did not model the most compelling version of universal reform being proposed. It didn't consider what would happen if quality early learning was made free for low-income families, with a fixed daily fee for everyone else – a model backed by economists and educators. That omission underestimates the equity and economic benefits of reform. The commission also failed to account for the productivity gains of creating access where early education simply doesn't exist. One in four Australians lives in a childcare desert. For these families, there is no choice to make – care isn't available, no matter their budget or work preferences. Universal early learning means families that need it can depend on it being there. That reliability is a critical piece of our economic and social infrastructure. When early education costs more than $150 a day, the idea of 'choice' is a mirage for many families. Denying mothers the opportunity of paid work denies them the chance to build economic security, independence and stability. A fair, universal model would unlock genuine choices and deliver benefits for children, families and the broader economy. Georgie Dent, CEO, The Parenthood