Donald Trump right to take on misogyny of Iran regime
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MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Without denying the historical parallels in terms of military incompetence between the Crimean War and US President Donald Trump’s foray in Iran, as chronicled by Peter Hartcher (“The US wins? No one has told Iran”, 28/4), it is too easily overlooked that Trump was initially correct in addressing the industrial misogyny of the Iranian mullah-led regime. The regime’s brutal sexism, and their Revolutionary Corps enablers, should have been confronted long ago. The generations-long tragic plight of Iranian women from 1979 onwards perpetrated by a callous theocratic male plutocracy was undoubtedly the basis for pursuing a “just war”. Notwithstanding Trump’s inadequacy, that remains the case.
Jon McMillan, Mornington
Iran did boast about its nuclear capability
Peter Hartcher claims that Donald Trump’s war “has entered contention for the title of the most aimless major war in modern history”, that Iran posed no nuclear threat when Trump launched the war, and only became a threat when he needed to nominate one. But Hartcher fails to acknowledge that Trump has repeatedly stated since at least 2011 that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, and that during the negotiations prior to the war, the Iranians openly boasted about having a stockpile of enriched uranium from which they could make 11 nuclear bombs within 10 days.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East
Time to condemn lethal folly
Peter Hartcher aptly sums up the complete stupidity of the war on Iran. Donald Trump’s objectives to end the war are now distilled down to two things – reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing the development by Iran of nuclear weapons. Prior to the deaths on both sides, the strait was open and there was scant evidence that Iran would develop nuclear weapons after its capacity was “obliterated” in 2025.
Along with the increasing signs of AUKUS falling apart, isn’t it time for the Australian government to condemn Trump’s mindless and lethal folly?
John Varley, Abbotsford
We will go on hurting
Iran has promised to open the Strait of Hormuz as part of seeking a truce. Is Donald Trump going to recognise that the rest of the world is really hurting? I think I know the answer and in the end, we will go on hurting.
John Rome, Mt Lawley, WA
The threats are not really there
All the sabre rattlers are saying that in an “unstable world”, we must build up our defences. But where is this “unstable” world? Certainly, there is instability in the Middle East that has little to do with us; we are not threatened by Indonesia or any other Asian nation; relations with China have not been better, and anyway, China has hardly ever started a war. It is a long-standing practice of governments to cow the people by inventing threats.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Depiction of Churchill not fair
Malcolm Knox’s column (“Amid Trump’s war, I land at Gallipoli”, 25/4) is long on emotional hyperbole but sadly lacking in historical fact. The moribund Turkish Ottoman Empire was a corrupt, despotic and brutal entity allied to Imperial Germany.
The area currently being wrestled over in the Middle East was freed from Turkish rule by British forces, including Australians, most notably the Light Horse. It was later decreed a League of Nations mandate to be administered by Britain and France.
However, the most egregious piece of misinformation penned by Knox is his depiction of Winston Churchill as “an ex-journalist who fancied himself as a commander”. Whatever one may think about Churchill as an unapologetic British imperialist, he was a brave trained soldier and officer, with active service experience, becoming an acknowledged war correspondent. Subsequently, he was elected to parliament and became what we would now consider the minister for the navy. After the Gallipoli debacle, he resigned and went to frontline duty in France.
Bruce Stillman, Fitzroy North
THE FORUM
It’s not betrayal
Sarah Matulin, the girlfriend of Ben Roberts-Smith, has astonishingly accused former SAS soldier and potential war crimes witness Andrew Hastie of being a “traitor” (“Girlfriend of BRS calls MP a ‘traitor’”, 28/4). Hastie served multiple tours of Afghanistan and was one of 21 SAS veterans who gave evidence in the defamation case Roberts-Smith brought against The Age (and lost). Disgraced former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann also chimed in with, “your betrayal of BRS … won’t be forgotten”.
Hastie is under intense pressure from many on his own side, many of whom believe he will never lead the Coalition should he testify. What they all fail to understand is that accountability is not betrayal. Even in extreme conditions of wartime, actions remain bound by the rule of law.
As Hastie has said, “Part of us moving forward as a country is acknowledging where we have done well … and also acknowledging where we’ve gone wrong”.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne
Compassion for ISIS brides
I am relieved to learn more of the ISIS brides are on their way back to their homeland (“Wong’s arrest warning to IS families”, 28/4). Given all security concerns are well provided for – for both the general population and the families – we must not forget that these unfortunates must be treated with kindness and compassion. They may return with radical attitudes, but if we want them to settle back successfully into Australian life – whether in prison or at liberty – kindness and compassion will be the most healing qualities. Treat them harshly, or as pariahs, and any radical or anti-social views that they hold will surely be cemented forever.
Chris Young, Surrey Hills
Not welcome home
These women left Australia to join the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Many of these women were young and married IS fighters once in the region, while others accompanied husbands. Those from Australia went, not kicking and struggling, but of their own free will. They renounced their Australian citizenship once they become members of a terrorist group.
Where will their allegiance lie when back in Australia? Once back here, who will support them? They should not be allowed any government benefits. They should not expect welcoming open arms from the Australian community.
Alan Leitch, Austins Ferry, Tas.
Coalition disingenuous
You have to hand it to the Coalition: they are always late to the party (“Taylor pumps up $800m plan to double national stockpile amid Hormuz closure”, 28/4). When the Coalition came to power in 2013, Australia had about 90 days of fuel reserves, as required. When they left power in 2022, that reserve had dropped to about 30 days. Our reserves now, thanks to Labor government, are close to 40 days. It is disingenuous for the Coalition to suddenly have a solution to a problem that they created.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Climate solution
Angus Taylor wants to double our fossil-fuel reserves over the next five years. This can be achieved by halving the demand for fossil fuels over the same period while maintaining our current level of stored fuel. The halving of demand can be achieved by accelerating the electrification of our transport systems and increasing the use of public transport.
Graeme Henchel, Yarra Glen
Get over Climate 200
Can the media please get over this “accepted funding from teal-aligned Climate 200” thing as if it’s somehow tainted money (“‘Breach of trust’: independent slams opponent’s Labor links”, 28/4)? Can they please be even-handed and say “accepted funding from Gina Rinehart?” The gambling industry? Gas exporters?
For the record, Climate 200 is fully transparent about donations from its 33,000 donors, including its founder’s, as well as which politicians they support. The same cannot be said of the undisclosed donations by wealthy Australians.
Amy Bachrach, McKinnon
Gutless cowards
It is encouraging that so many readers have taken a stance against the disrespectful booing at the dawn service (Letters, 28/4). However, I think we need to be less polite. Those who choose to boo Indigenous Australians welcoming us to Country are gutless cowards. They chose to do this under the cover of darkness, to disrupt an event of mourning and thanksgiving. They need to be called out for what they are. Hopefully, the RSL’s review will be a ringing endorsement of current protocols.
Michael Lee, Canberra, ACT
Apologies needed
Don’t get rid of Welcome to Country; make it mean something. Apologise for the frontier violence, murder and rape, and for the loss of land, culture, social structures and lives. Real reconciliation can only begin with an acknowledgement of past atrocities, and ought to be central to any Welcome to Country.
Colin Smith, Dandenong
Trams are the problem
Re the article, “Push reignited for protected bike lane on perilous road” (28/4): the elephant in the room is the tram service. This is the chief cause of risk to cyclists.
The question one should ask is why is there a need for a tram service when there is a train service five minutes’ walk away. Moreover, there are parallel tram services in Melville Road and Lygon Street.
Thus, the Sydney Road tram can be considered an unnecessary duplication. Rather than reducing number of Upfield line railway stations, increase the number.
The same argument could apply to the High Street, Northcote, tram service, which has the Mernda train line and St George’s Road tram close by.
Robert Juozas, Eaglemont
Ban bikes on Sydney Road
Bikes should be banned from Sydney Road altogether – they are a danger to pedestrians and the cyclists themselves, and they add to the congestion of this narrow but major thoroughfare.
There is an alternative bike trail, the Upfield Shared Path.
Peter Hendrickson, East Melbourne
Safety in silence
Tim Biggs’ review of the best noise-cancelling headphones (Business, 28/4) was informative, but in today’s increasingly disengaged and self-absorbed world, perhaps a passing reference to the safety issue of noise-cancellation in public spaces could have been made. Our culture continues to embrace the plethora of tech devices and gadgets on offer with great enthusiasm, but as with many of these consumables, we can pay a considerable price.
Bruce Watson, Belgrave
Find out autism cause
Re your article, “Criteria the NDIS might use for eligibility” (25/4), that states 43 per cent of NDIS recipients are children on the spectrum, and it is rising: Is anyone looking into why we have so many children like this?
My unverified view is lifestyle (processed foods, sugar intake, devices) and environment (exposure to toxins, pollutants, chemicals). When I was at school in the ’60s-’70s, I never saw autism or ADHD. Perhaps it existed but was very minimal. Why this explosion of cases? There has to be a root cause.
Colin Davey, Vermont South
Second-class treatment
In rural areas, the impact on the payments being made to male footballers is having a direct impact on girls’ ability to participate in sports (“Salary cap concerns in country football”, 28/4).
Often, the only options for people to play netball is to play with the football/netball league club. The club I was associated with told us they didn’t have enough funds to give the netballers two balls to warm up with, or a second set of bibs to do rolling subs or for when there was a uniform clash. At the presentation night, there were two small trophies for netball, but six trophies for football. A pie night at the start of the year for presenting the shirt, but bring a plate for the netball awards presentation.
In frustration, many girls gave up playing, tired of the footballers seemingly having unlimited funds for equipment while they were, year after year, denied equal access.
Name withheld
Continue the work
A tragic anniversary on Tuesday of 30 years after the Port Arthur massacre. And the one positive to come out of it was the steps taken by former prime minister John Howard to co-operate with the then opposition and the states to introduce tough gun controls. So why isn’t the current PM doing likewise, and using some of his incredible majority to work with the states to increase gun controls?
As someone brought up in the country, I was taught to use guns and to know how to treat them with respect. But I fail to see why city people need guns. Why isn’t the PM working to bring about tougher controls so that the Bondi tragedy cannot recur? It’s the least Anthony Albanese can do to honour those who were so terribly harmed on that dreadful day in Tasmania.
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
Howard’s way
In 1996, John Howard’s Liberal-National government won 94 seats in the House of Representatives to Labor’s 49 – a result it used when responding to the Port Arthur massacre to secure firearms restrictions across Australia.
In 2025, Anthony Albanese’s Labor government likewise won 94 seats. However, Labor still cannot find the courage to legislate the phased-in total ban on gambling advertising recommended by its own 2023 inquiry chaired by the late MP, Peta Murphy.
Well, at least we can be grateful the Howard government acted.
Brian Marshall, Ashburton.
From the bottom up
Your correspondent (Letters 28/4) recommends ignoring all the how-to-vote cards and allocate your No.1 according to whom you believe is the best candidate, and allocating the next number to the candidate you consider next suitable, etc.
I, too, ignore the how-to-vote cards handed out at polling booths but have a different approach. I allocate the lowest number to the candidate I consider the worst choice and allocate the next lowest to the next candidate, etc. I am left with the last candidate that I allocate No.1, they being the best of a bad lot.
Keith Hoffman, Ormond
AND ANOTHER THING …
Welcome to Country
Anyone who boos a Welcome to Country is very welcome to go back to the land of their ancestors.
Malcolm Fraser, Oakleigh South
Antisemitism gets special anti-hate speech laws enacted, while booing and heckling an Indigenous person giving a Welcome to Country is described as a democratic right. Go figure.
Miranda Jones, Drummond
Trump
Perhaps Melania Trump should consider her husband’s divisive behaviour before she casts aspersions on Jimmy Kimmel.
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
Did Donald duck?
Paul Drakeford, Kew
If Donald Trump wants to end the Iran war, he has to accept that it takes two to TACO.
Tony O’Brien, South Melbourne
Trump may well think he holds all the cards. That’s not too hard when you are playing solitaire.
David Hay, Greensborough
Politics
Is anybody else frustrated by the Angus Taylor’s overuse of the phrase, “let’s be perfectly clear”, when he clearly isn’t?
Peter Carlin, Frankston South
If David Pocock joined the Greens and became leader, the party could really become the third force in Australian politics.
Fabio Scalia, Balaclava
A party that openly undermines certain cultures, religions, and races and hence promotes division rather than unity can hardly call themselves “One Nation”. Quite the opposite. “One Culture” would seem more appropriate.
Emma Borghesi, Rye
Furthermore
A compromise on Sydney Road: Enforce a no-parking, tow-away Clearway from 5-10am and 3-10pm in both directions.
Earle Orenstein, Caulfield South
Finally
The Melbourne Star is “ready to roll”. I’d prefer that a giant wheel remains attached and just gently rotates or revolves.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
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To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
