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Sydney Morning Herald

Trump's street war could be the beginning of the end for America

Peter Hartcher questions whether Donald Trump has a mandate to start a war on American soil (' Trump was spoiling for another street war. Now he's got one', June 10). When it was first suggested that Trump would run for the presidency, I saw an interview with his niece, an academic of intellectual and moral discipline. She said that 'everything Donald has turned his hands to he has destroyed'. She paused and then said, 'and he will do the same thing to America.' The interviewer laughed, the suggestion being this was an overstatement of potential harm. Stony-faced, she said it was no laughing matter. Given what this dumb Mussolini is doing through his chilling ICE activity and the growing unrest in some of America's cities, it would seem this is a prophecy about to be fulfilled. Chris McKimm, Karangi In political communication, a 'dead cat' is a tactic used to distract the public and media from a damaging issue by introducing a dramatic new topic. This is exactly what Donald Trump has done by inciting the protests in LA by sending in the Marines and National Guard (' Marines deployed to LA ', June 10). He is taking the attention away from the multiple failures and chaos of his administration, and putting the focus of the public and media on the riots in LA, which his administration effectively started. Malcolm Freak, Armidale Suicide mission Greta Thunberg's ill-fated voyage to Gaza wasn't brave, it was dangerously naive. She called it a 'kidnapping' after the Israeli Navy stopped her boat, yet smiled as she was handed a sandwich. Real hostages don't get photo opportunities. She claimed to bring aid to Gazans, but seemed unaware, or indifferent, to whom she was really helping. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz responded by having her crew watch raw footage of the October 7 atrocities. 'Let them see who they're supporting,' he said (' Israel orders Greta Thunberg be shown October 7 video while in detention ', June 10). But if Greta wants a lesson in Gaza's realities, she should look up Vittorio Arrigoni – an Italian activist murdered by Palestinian militants in 2011. He sailed in support of Gaza, too. They tortured and killed him for his trouble, calling Italy an 'infidel state'. If Greta had made it to Gaza she wouldn't have been hailed as a saviour. As a Western woman, she might not have made it out at all. Activism without awareness isn't courage – it's suicide dressed as solidarity. Shane Shmuel, Elsternwick (Vic) The Israeli military's seizure of an unarmed aid vessel carrying humanitarian activists marks another chilling moment in a war that has long abandoned any pretence of morality (' Israel boards Gaza charity boat with Greta Thunberg on board ', June 10). This was not a warship nor a military convoy – it was a boat carrying baby formula and medical supplies, intercepted in international waters. Israel's justification? That the boat threatened its naval blockade – blockade that has turned Gaza into both a graveyard and a prison, cutting off not just food and medicine, but any remaining hope. This isn't about security, it's the systematic punishment of an entire population and a clear violation of international law. Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy (Vic) Israel's military took control of the Madleen while it was trying to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza, and brought its crew of activists including Greta Thunberg to an Israeli port. While this was a futile exercise by the activists, why is it that no country's leaders have even made the gesture of condemning Israel's actions? Michael Bright, Moss Vale Solar future Amazon's warehouse at Kemps Creek has 3400 solar panels on the roof, but this pales when compared with Moorebank Logistics Park, which will have 120,000 panels when completed (' The city's unused spaces that are prime real estate for solar ', June 10). If you want to see what a renewable energy hub really looks like, the place to go is Adelaide. It seems that every square inch of available space there has been plastered with solar panels – homes, businesses, churches, car parks. Even the animal cages at the zoo have panels on them. And the result: SA's grid is now 74 per cent renewable and will hit 100 per cent by the end of 2027. Now that's seriously impressive. Ken Enderby, Concord Whenever I am waiting for a train and look up at the long platform roof, I wonder why the Department of Transport cannot install solar panels on all those really exposed spaces. The government preaches solar but doesn't appear to do the obvious in its own facilities. It's a no-brainer. At the same time, perhaps similarly equipped platform roofing should be installed at all suburban stations as well. Rod Lander, Stanwell Park I see Nick O'Malley is advocating governments mandate all new residential and commercial buildings must have solar panels installed. This is not a new idea, but one that in my opinion should have been implemented by all states at least 20 years ago. Come on Albo, in this day and age, time is of the essence. Nicholas Beauman, Neutral Bay Honours system Perhaps some of the criticisms of the Australian honours system in Jenna Price's polemic are justified, but with more than 800 recipients it is inevitable that some will be contentious (' Honouring Scott Morrison makes a mockery of awards system ', June 9). This shouldn't overshadow the positives of a system that recognises not only politicians, but a vastly larger number of individuals whose selfless, lifelong endeavours have benefited our community, and whose joy at their award is shared warmly by family and friends. Malcolm France, Haberfield The angry responses from your letter writers shows that something is very wrong with the Australian awards system. My suggestion is that they be reserved exclusively for people who are volunteers. Everyone else should just line up for an employee of the month award. Michael Georgeson, Balmain After the flood of letters criticising the undeserved honour awarded to Scott Morrison, I'm looking forward to correspondence that justifies it. Rosemary? Riley? We're waiting. Daniel Flesch, Bellingen When it was revealed Scott Morrison had received a King's Birthday gong I said to my partner 'the lefties will go ballistic'. Mimicking the words of noted leftie Peter Fitzsimons, 'I TOLD yers!' Unsurprisingly, calls for a review of the honours system only emerge from hibernation after a conservative receives an award. When a progressive gets a gong or, for that matter is appointed as the King's representative in Australia, lefties are either missing in action or praising the anointed one as a worthy recipient. The hypocrisy astounds but doesn't surprise. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach Building rules The Herald investigation of the Building Information Certification is yet another example of the cynical and corrupt few destroying the reputation of a legitimate tool that architects and builders use to enable the continuity of construction works on site (' Build First, ask for permission later ', June 10). In situations where technical difficulties and/or a dysfunctional planning system cannot reasonably resolve the issues within the timeframes necessary, the BIC is the only legitimate pathway forward and without it building complex high-quality projects of any kind would be almost impossible. The current approval and construction compliance processes are fast becoming untenable and must be simplified and rethought if we ever hope to deliver affordable high-quality housing. Jon King, Randwick Food first Further to correspondent Bruce Clydsdale's letter, food is the first medicine and health is wealth. Australia is fortunate to have abundant, fresh, high-quality food supplied by the country to the cities, with the true value of this going well beyond money (Letters, June 7). Associated benefits include the prevention of malnutrition, sickness and disease. This food supply also translates into social stability. The pandemic revealed a rapid breakdown of community, with fights in supermarkets over goods, and anger towards supermarket workers trying to impose limits. In terms of tourism and travel, revenue is raised beyond the cities, well into regional and remote Australia. While ostensibly highly profitable, the education export 'industry' has a particularly chequered history, as documented in the Herald and other media, with ICAC listing numerous areas of concern. Interestingly, in 2014, the University of Sydney reported that adults from rural and remote Australia are disproportionately represented among our prime ministers and top 100 CEOs. Only 10 per cent of the population come from country Australia, but 38 per cent of the top CEOs, and 24 per cent of our prime ministers, have had that background. In all, it would be a great error to underestimate the immense and multi-faceted contribution of the country to Australia's well-being, stability and prosperity. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic) Housing targets Poor Clare O'Neil is the latest to be frustrated by a ridiculously over-governed Australia (' O'Neil focus on planning in bid to hit home target ', June 10). She wants to build houses as quickly as possible but state and local government constraints stand in her way. Of course, I'm not suggesting we fix the constitution and then fix housing, but really, three tiers of government for a population smaller than the state of California? How will the federal government succeed without upsetting any apple carts? My advice? Shower them with platitudes and homilies, Anthony. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove Clare O'Neil was handed the federal housing portfolio with the express mission of getting the government's housing target back on track. Three years were wasted while the Greens held up legislation for their own purposes. The provision of 1.2 million homes by 2030 is a major policy of the Albanese government, and they can't afford to fail. If she has to break a few eggs to get the job done, so be it. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill Raw prawn Several years ago, despite a concerted campaign by the local fishing industry, savant Canberra bureaucrats allowed the import of raw prawn meat into Australia from south-east Asia. Despite the fact that white spot disease was endemic in these countries, the assurance by the big supermarkets that no one would ever consider using these prawns for fishing in local waterways won the day. Predictably, it was only a matter of weeks after imports began that white spot escaped, devastating the local prawn farming industry. Are we now going to allow the importation of poorly documented raw beef from regions known for screw worm and mad cow disease. Will the same savants be reassuring Australian beef producers that they know best (' Albanese to put beef on the table in trade talks ', June 7)? Paul Soares, Bardwell Valley Class act I am not surprised to read that international students love attending our public schools (' Why International students love Sydney's in-demand public schools ' June 9). I had the pleasure of teaching many international students. They were almost without exception attentive, scholarly, respectful, and enhanced the overall atmosphere of the classroom. I remember two Swedish girls who told me during winter they had 'never been so cold' as they struggled with our school's poor heating. One girl from Finland topped both my English and modern history class, achieved admirably at the athletics and swimming carnivals, won the school's talent quest after a commendable ballet performance, and even made her own school formal dress. A girl from Japan was amazed that, unlike her own school, we taught drama. A Swiss student insisted that my wife and I meet up with her family when on a European vacation, which we were delighted to do. All this at a standard comprehensive school on the Central Coast. International students appreciate the quality and value of an Australian education, which so often is denigrated by others. Robert Hickey, Green Point Climate action can't wait Labor is maintaining a double standard on emissions reduction (' Labor vows to tackle its unfulfilled environmental goals ', June 10). During a recent visit to drought-affected farmers in South Australia, Albanese himself acknowledged that 'climate change is real and we need to respond to it'. Yet environment minister Murray Watt has recently given provisional approval to extend the WA North West Shelf project, run by gas giant Woodside. This project would result in billions of tonnes of pollution being released into the atmosphere and fuelling the problem of global warming. Climate change has a very real human as well as an environmental cost, as the impact of severe drought in southern Australia and the recent floods in northern NSW clearly show. I implore the Labor government to take a long, hard look at their core values and have the courage to take real action to reduce global pollution. The best renewables program in the world won't reverse the problem of climate change as long as new fossil fuel projects are being approved. Anne O'Hara, Wanniassa (ACT) Women rise up Alison Page's planned sculpture is an excellent concept (' New 'superhero' will rise above Circular Quay ', June 10). It is right that we honour pioneering governors, explorers and leaders to whom we owe so much. It is right too that we honour Indigenous Australians, who bless all of us with an ancient and storied culture. As community leader Noel Pearson has eloquently put it, Australia is made up of three broad, great cultural traditions: Indigenous, British and migrant. The installation of works like this honouring Indigenous Australians alongside others helps us to realise this awesome affordance of ours. As for installations honouring women, Alison Page's creation will join Queen Victoria's statue next to Town Hall, and the monument near Circular Quay to women settlers. More monuments honouring women are always welcome. Will Thorpe, Haberfield NDIS rorts Your correspondent highlights the odious profiteering at large within the NDIS (Letters, June 10). No wonder the expenditure has blown out beyond belief. Albeit ostensibly to ensure greater transparency and equitability, these loopy loopholes have enabled this potentially great system to go the way of all good government initiatives – attracted easy profiteering and encouraged pigs at the trough. The recipients in need run a poor second with soft corporate greed calling the shots. Judy Finch, Taree Coeliac pitfalls Diagnosing coeliac disease is only half the battle (' Think gluten makes you sick? A new test could tell you for sure ', June 10). The gluten-free diet has many pitfalls, as I have discovered over the past 20 years. The cost of gluten-free products is roughly double the price of gluten-filled equivalents. Then the three Bs (beer, bread and biscuits – in that order) are either hard to find, inedible or tasteless. Thank goodness for red wine. To cap it off, many restaurants are reluctant to give the gluten-free stamp to their meals. Michael Blissenden, Dural Hospitals on life support How long will it be before emergency mental health care in NSW collapses (' Fury at minister over pay rise 'cost',' June 10)? How long can the remaining public psychiatrists and mental health nurses keep the system struggling on before they, too, give up and go private? Regional areas like the Shoalhaven have no public psychiatrists at all, relying on mental health nurses and video conference assessments. Is this really the best the NSW minister for mental health can do? The premier, whose main skill it seems is apologising for his government's shortcomings, needs to have a serious look at the priorities of his government (' The early warning that put a price on fixing the state's psychiatrists crisis ', June 10). At the moment, they give every indication of being a failure. Colin Hesse, Nowra Vale Shakespeare, one of a kind Such sad news (' Beloved Herald cartoonist John Shakespeare dies after cancer battle ', June 10). For those who, like myself, gravitate towards the cartoons prior to reading anything else, Shakespeare's absence has been felt. Cartoonists are, after all, the penetrating eye of any paper worthy of print (real or virtual). The many and varied tributes to him paint a potent portrait. Readers of this masthead have lost a little of the inner warmth and gentle sparkle needed to withstand the wintery gusts of our turbulent times. Vale John Shakespeare. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Vale John Shakespeare, Herald hero, wonderful human and cartoonist in a league of his own. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills John Shakespeare had a wonderful gift. He showed us that a message with humour catches the eye and is remembered with a smile. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland Truly, truly sad, but as they say – a life worth living. David Neilson, Araluen (NT)