If this ceasefire doesn't hold, let's hit the streets again

Sydney Morning Herald

4 hours ago

I am so angry about the Albanese government's apparent support for Trump blundering into war in Iran ('US acted alone in Iran: Albanese', June 24). Have they forgotten so quickly Trump's erratic behaviour as US president and our own record in having supported George Bush's attack on Iraq's supposed weapons of destruction? It seems it's time for many of us to again take part in protest marches against this war and to raise serious questions about our involvement in AUKUS.
Zeny Giles, New Lambton
James Massola's attempt at nuance and ambiguity ('PM dodges war talk, but the visuals are awkward', June 24) is exposed when he compares and contrasts Anthony Albanese's position for not going gung-ho with America by sending a ship to the Middle East with what John Howard did do and what Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison would have done. We know how Iraq turned out. That war not only cost hundreds of thousands of lives, but it also resulted in the strengthening of Iran in the Middle East and surely must rank as one of the most egregious acts of stupidity in the history of US foreign policy. Now Trump has chosen to do it all over again.
Frank Carroll, Moorooka (Qld)
Thank goodness Albo and Penny are in charge and not Howard, Abbott or Morrison.
Charmain Brinks, Newcastle
The government's response to Trump flaunting his bunker-busting boy's toys in Iran was as careful and balanced as it should have been ('PM missed his chance to make point on Iran', June 24). It's the Coalition that deserves calling out for its unfailing and reflexive war-mongering, always demanding we ride along as junior belligerents as we did in Vietnam and Iraq, and cheering on Netanyahu war crimes in Gaza.
Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee
Trump's ego is the real present danger
Geoffrey Robertson's reasoned view that Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities is – under international law – no different from Russia's attack on Ukraine or the George W. Bush/Tony Blair/John Howard invasion of Iraq ('Trump's rap sheet is long, but this may top them all', June 24) – if anything suggests that Trump's big ego is more dangerous than Iran's nuclear threat.
Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
Although Geoffrey Robertson, KC, is correct and a breach of international law has been perpetrated by the USA, he overlooks the danger to Israel of Iran having nuclear weapons, capable of wiping out Israel in one blast. Surely, the bombing of the nuclear enrichment plants in Iran is the lesser of two evils?
Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
We may debate whether the bombing was an act of aggression or an act of war, as does Geoffrey Robertson. We may go along with any setback to the Iranian nuclear program, as do others. But the optics of this happening right now are so clearly in tandem with Netanyahu's ambitions. Trump's contempt for the once much-vaunted rules-based order, and ours by proxy, is blatant. But it leaves Australia with little moral authority and nothing with which to back it up anyway. China must be delighted.
Ian Bowie, Bowral
It is an extraordinary time. The Australian government comes out in support of an action deemed by legal experts as illegal – an action that President Trump ordered after ignoring the information from his own intelligence experts. The repercussions of this decision remain to be seen but will certainly have a significant impact on all our lives.
Louise Dolan, Birchgrove
Clues in history
Donald Trump would never be mistaken for a renaissance man, but shouldn't he at least show awareness of Iran's recent history, and the coup d'etat backed by the US and UK in 1953? That coup removed Iran's democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mosaddegh, who was nationalising the oil industry in which Britain held substantial interests. The pro-Western Shah was empowered, overseeing a notoriously corrupt, autocratic and repressive regime, with secret police, the Savak, who were infamous for their brutality. Anger at this regime, and its imposition by the West, has been described as sowing the seeds for the Iranian revolution of 1979. The CIA has admitted the coup of 1953 was detrimental. If it hadn't occurred, Iran may well have had a very different trajectory to the present. How, then, might the Iranian people feel about Trump's post that: 'if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' ('Iran warns Trump', June 24). Especially if 'regime change' were to install the son of the deposed Shah as Iran's leader.
Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)
There is much talk of regime change, but would it be for our betterment? JD Vance at least has a brain and is Yale-educated, but his hard-right, isolationist and misogynistic views could make him even more dangerous than the moronic show-pony who can change his mind several times a day. Oh, regime change in Iran? Sorry.
Bernard Moylan, Bronte
I'm all for regime change in Iran, but can we get a two-for-one offer and include the US?
Corrado Tavella, Rosslyn Park (SA)
If Iran really had developed to an advanced stage its alleged nuclear weapons program, there is no way the US would have bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. The US would never risk the likelihood of a retaliatory strike, particularly from a nuclear-capable nation. In what could only be described as a self-defeating argument, both Israel and the US have tried to manufacture a story about Iran planning an imminent nuclear attack against Israel (hence the US bombing run against Iran). However, if this were more than merely plausible, America's bunker-buster bombs would still be in their hangars.
Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay
Poised to profit?
As many news outlets have reported, it appears that Donald Trump, his family and members of his administration have greatly profited from his policies and actions since retaking office. Now the USA has bombed sites in Iran upon the orders of the president. It seems likely that this will result in oil rising in price, especially as one of the few retaliatory measures the Iranians can take is to choke off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ('Tehran threatens to choke off strait crucial to world oil supply', June 24). What seems unlikely is that this would not have occurred to the Americans. 'Drill, baby, drill' was Trump's pre-election mantra. The question is, given that Trump and his administration would have known that attacking Iran in this manner would very likely result in increased oil prices, did any of them – Trump, his family, or members of his administration – position themselves to profit from this oil price rise?
Peter Arthur, Artarmon
It is strange that Jennifer Parker ('Canberra must heed strait threat', June 24), in her article about the effects that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz might have on oil supply to the world, particularly China and Australia, does not mention the opening of a railway between Tehran and China. The transit time between Iran and China is 15 days, about half the time taken by ships, and it will be able to carry all manner of goods. China would no doubt regard any disruption to the line by a nation state as an act of war, and as a nuclear armed state with about 3000 combat aircraft, would quickly wreak vengeance on the aggressor. Iran has more options than some have posited, and hubristic actions could have nasty consequences.
Joe Goozeff, Leura
Un-Trumpable!
Amazing! Donald Trump has brokered an end to the Israel-Iran war ('Middle East ceasefire', smh.com.au, June 24). He must be a near certainty for the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, I would predict that if someone else wins, it will be because votes for Trump were stolen and awarded to the other candidate.
Don Firth, Wooli
Taxpayer stumps up for climate inaction
The 10-fold increase in disaster relief is not the result of 'natural' disaster; it is a result of human-induced climate change ('Disaster relief spending shoots up', June 24). The headlining relief expense of the NSW budget is putting a price on climate change that even the most diehard denialist can't ignore. We are now seeing the long-predicted atmospheric changes and the real economic consequences of fossil fuel consumption. The costs to the public purse are obvious as taxpayers bear the brunt of inaction. The private costs to citizens and business are growing at a similar rate through direct damages costs and astounding insurance premiums. The knuckle-dragging go-slow by the Liberal National parties and the conservative elements of the Labor Party needs to be exposed. The slow momentum on climate action is leading us down a path our society cannot afford and is anything but natural.
Peter Hull, Katoomba
Perhaps Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey could check with their mates in the insurance industry if they are unsure about rebuilding on floodplains, along rivers or allowing quaint timber cottages acting as tinderboxes when nestled in bush. Just as building codes and standards changed in Darwin and Cairns after cyclones, we face global warming and its attendant fires, floods, droughts and mudslides, so building codes and politicians must catch up.
Jenny Forster, Manly
Bezos blowout
The law of matrimonial longevity states that 'the amount [in American dollars] expended on frivolous self-indulgence and ego-flattering nuptial ceremonies is inversely proportional to the longevity of the marriage so celebrated, but is also positively proportional to the acrimony and expense of the inevitable divorce'. Less formally, the law states 'the more expensive the wedding celebrations, the shorter the marriage'. It is supported by a trove of empirical data gathered over five decades, and the resulting PhDs have been published in several academic sociology journals of repute ('Wedding crashers ready to spoil Bezos' lavish nuptials in Venice', June 24).
Philip Bell, Bronte
Music in the moment
There is one surefire way to avoid AI-generated music, and that is to buy songs only by artists you can go and see live ('AI goes pop online, and it's unsettling in so many ways', June 24). It will still be a while before AI robots can reproduce the rattle of strings on a thrashed guitar, a drumstick thrown into the crowd or croaky lead singer belting out an anthem for the third time in a row and loving it.
Colin Stokes, Camperdown
Make $3m limit
There's a simple solution to Jim Chalmers' superannuation problem (Letters, June 24): limit super balances to $3 million. On June 30, each year, any amount exceeding that limit must be withdrawn. Invest it how you like, but pay full tax on the return. This solves a number of issues, including the use of super for tax minimisation and, of course, it gets around the thorny issue of taxing unrealised gains. The effect on revenue would be immediate and meaningful, and the fairness of super – and its original intention as a retirement funding mechanism – would be restored.
Angus McLeod, Cremorne
No, Noel Thompson (Letters, June 24). Tax reform does not need consensus. It requires courage to undo the tax scams inflicted on the country by economic rationalists over too many years.
Paul Fergus, Croydon
A number of contributors to the letters page have been having a good old whinge about being rightfully taxed on large superannuation balances. Most Australians (according to the polling) are very happy for this new tax to happen. A lot of Australians would like Jim Chalmers to go harder. I'm thinking that some people must live in the 'wealthy superannuation bubble' because they appear to be properly ignorant of the real-world concerns of the majority. My advice to them is to maintain your health and keep your family close – and do some charity work. That provides some purpose and clarity as to what's really important. It's not losing an undeserved tax break.
Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill
Running, not flying
To Avalon emu Dave Watts (Letters, June 24): Ms Carde is right, but there is an upside. Females will fight each other to mate with you. Swings and roundabouts.
Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay
Ashes engendered
It's not a bright idea to store ashes in post office boxes at Bondi Road Post Office ('Memorial plan may dig cemetery out of cash hole', June 24). The boxes are designed for male [sic] only use.
Col Shephard, Yamba
Wartime uplift
With all the devastating news about war and destruction, it was good to read about a successful program at Western Sydney University that supports students who have come to Australia from war-torn countries ('Refugees thriving under uni program', June 24). They help each other, and the friendships they make give them confidence as they enter Australian society and make such a valuable contribution in various fields of endeavour.
Josephine Piper, Miranda
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the daily killing of civilians doing nothing more sinister than desperately seeking food to feed themselves and families continues. Where is the worldwide condemnation?
Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Go and sit on a bench under a tree in a park somewhere, close your eyes, listen to the birds and imagine if all the money the bully boys are spending on armaments was instead invested in schools, universities, hospitals, medical science, conservation of flora and fauna, renewable energy, reafforestation. What a wonderful world it would be.
Kent Mayo, Uralla
First wattle flowers on my morning walk.
Keith Russell, Mayfield West