History repeats: foreign intervention, dictators
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IRAN
Foreign intervention into the affairs of Iran isn’t new. In 1953, because he wanted to nationalise British-owned Iran oil, the secular prime minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh was removed from power in a coup organised by the CIA and British M16.
This enabled the secular shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to retake power until 1979, when he was undermined by religious conservatives forcing him to flee the country.
In 1979, the French provided a special Air France plane for the Ayatollah Khomeini from exile in France to Iran, where he became the leader of the newly formed Islamic Republic of Iran. He died in 1989 and was succeeded by the now deceased Ayatollah Khamenei.
The world waits to see how this latest attempt by foreigners to influence the affairs of Iran develops.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
One dictatorship after another
The memory of the Iranian people seems to be very short; less than a generation long. I am old enough to remember the shah and his interference internationally with Iranian students in Germany when demonstrating in Germany against him.
Do they really want to replace a ruthless dictatorship with an older, equally ruthless dictatorship they endured for many years? (One that was put in power by Western powers).
I do understand that Iran is a country with a majority of young people, but a lot of these Iranian expatriates you see on TV shouting for the son of the shah to return are old enough that they should remember. Or, don’t they want to remember because they were beneficiaries of that regime in one way or another?
While the son of the last shah in Iran sounds conciliatory, make no mistake: he will want to pick up where his father left in 1979.
While he might sound tame at the moment, as soon as he is installed, he will want to consolidate his power despite some democratic concessions.
Dieter Liebrich, Swanpool
Boys and their toys
This probably sounds blase, but this morning I asked myself, what have all those blokes blown up today?
Elizabeth Devlin, Ascot Vale
Take a lesson from Carney
I agree with your correspondent (Letters, 3/3) that the Canadian prime minister could teach us some much needed lessons. One very important lesson Mark Carney could impart to our own prime minister (by his own example) is how to stand up for Australia and Australians’ interests instead of kowtowing to Trump.
Martin de Boerr, Coburg
Steering clear
Today, an anxious child asked me whether Australia should be building bomb shelters. I replied that this will not be necessary while Australia abstains from joining in other countries’ wars.
Angela Were, Castlemaine
Who can predict this war?
Trump has not learnt anything from the Afghanistan war. First, the Russians tried, then the US had a go – and even helped by Australia. The Taliban won. Who would be brave enough to forecast this show?
Gerrit Anton, Goulburn Weir
Your correspondent (Letters, ″Thousands celebrating for a reason″ 3/3) sees Iranians celebrating as ″all the justification needed for the invasion″.
Perhaps he needs to widen his lens and look at the utter despair and heartbreak of grieving parents of daughters killed following the strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls’ primary school in the southern city of Minab, the death toll including children in excess of 150.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne
You’re on your own
The current conflict in Iran has been expected for some years now and there has been repeated warnings to Aussies living in the Middle East about a pending conflict in Iran.
if the federal government is considering bringing home Australian citizens from Iran then, it should only be those who are there on tourist visas.
Australia citizens living and working in the region knew of the situation but decided to stay living there, years after all the repression by the Iran government.
If citizens want to live and work in the Middle East for extended periods of time, then why should we assist them to return home? They knew the possible consequences for their action and have to live with it.
Steven Cruden, Kwinana, WA
Useful Trump
Not content with being Putin’s useful idiot, Trump has now become Netanyahu’s useful idiot. The consummate conman, Trump conned the American people with the ″no new wars″ promise.
Judy Loney, Drumcondra
Setting Iranians free
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu should be lauded for their courage in launching operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion respectively.
When Iran’s dreadful catalogue of terrorism is examined, one finds funding of Hamas and Hezbollah, destructive acts of terror in Iraq, and even terrorist incidents in Australia.
This despotic regime must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. The actions of Israel and the US are, in fact, partly in self-defence. The long-suffering people of Iran with their rich history deserve to know freedom and ultimately live in peace with their neighbours.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
Keep clear of US wars
It is worth remembering that the US has participated in major wars since World War II: In Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In each, Australia has jumped at the chance to please our hero and participate. History is being repeated yet again. Let us hope Australia will have the sense to keep out of this one.
Robert Scholes, Mitcham
THE FORUM
Rules are vital
It’s more than a little scary to know that the opposition appears to believe that rules no longer apply (‴Fantasy land’: Hastie declares global rules-based order dead” 3/3), and sadly the government appears to follow “bully boy” tactics also in supporting the US action on Iran.
How Australian politics has deteriorated since we played such a pivotal role in helping establish that rules-based order after the Second World War.
I prefer to have rules that tell me which side of the road on which to drive. Heaven help us when the reckless drivers think that their power gives them the right to drive wherever they like.
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
Liberals’ secrecy
Peter Dutton and the current Liberal leaders should be pleased the Liberal Review of the 2025 election has been “leaked” (“Dutton lets fly at ‘hit job’ as Liberal election review leaks”, 3/3).
The fact that Dutton is unattractive to women voters is not news. What is news is that apparently its parliamentary leader needs to ″account for the development of sound policy to the party” according to one of its recommendations.
Further, the party is going to try to understand why it is unattractive to women. Its recommendation is to prioritise the elevation and selection of women candidates to winnable seats.
A step forward would have been to make this report available immediately it was completed. Secrecy doesn’t help.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
Watch your tongues
It is a sad reflection on Australian society that hate speech laws are deemed necessary to protect minority groups.
In a broader context, political leaders genuinely focused on social cohesion and the national interest, rather than division and political advantage, need to watch their tongues more carefully.
We are in dangerous territory when, for example, common decency is labelled political correctness – where calls for a fair go are classified as class envy. The Coalition’s lifters and leaners stereotyping helped create the Robodebt disgrace.
Angus Taylor’s description of proposed changes to property tax breaks as an assault on aspiration, and failure to support the recent parliamentary censure of Pauline Hanson do not auger well.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
Sliding standards
In the article “Coalition oppose Hanson censure” (3/3), opposition Senate leader Michaela Cash stated that whilst Senator Hanson’s comments (“how can you tell me there are good Muslims?“) she made in a Sky TV interview were not appropriate, she rejected that Hanson’s comments deserved formal censure and suspension from the Senate.
Cash argued that such motions are reserved for conduct relating to parliamentary and ministerial responsibility.
Our elected parliamentarians should be setting the standards, and not accepting racist behaviour and comments.
The standard that you tolerate is the standard you accept.
So where does the “new” LNP stand on such racist remarks? Will they be tolerated in the hope of a preference deal with One Nation?
David Conolly, Brighton
Oil shock, solar response
All indications are that Australia’s dependence on oil is increasingly bad business.
The Iran conflict reminds us that reliance on foreign supply leaves us exposed to shocks beyond our control (“Choke point: Global oil supply gasps for breath” 3/3).
What is within our control is the Albanese government further accelerating the shift to renewable energy (Letters, “Chickens home to roost”, 3/3).
This is not just an environmental argument; it is a commercial one. Australia leads the world in rooftop solar uptake. With supportive policy settings, home battery installations have surged, and electric vehicle sales have tripled in the past three years. The lesson from yet another bout of oil-driven volatility is clear: long-term resilience comes from energy independence.
Investment in renewables is investment in economic security — and in a safer, more stable future for our children. Is this an investment our politicians could lean into with haste?
Karen Lamb, Geelong
AI’s high stakes
We are rushing headlong into a glorious AI future, replete with energy and water-guzzling data centres. This brings us so much closer to achieving the great capitalist dream: zero employment.
It also demonstrates the ultimate hollowness of capitalism: its failure to care for, or address, the true needs of humans. Much more than short-term cost of living is at stake.
Lawrence Cohen, Blackburn North
Media’s lament
Re ″Dismay at courts hostility to media″, (3/3). If the “press” and court reporters would like more transparency, accurate factual reporting might help. Newspaper, radio and television “reporting” looks more like campaigning and propaganda than informing.
This misreporting is not a recent phenomenon. It has been going on for years, and has become worse in recent years.
The press could gain some credibility (and sales) by reporting fact and asking questions aimed at obtaining information rather than the “gotcha” rubbish we see so often.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Media report conflicted
How can one take seriously a study commissioned by the media into the courts’ use of suppression orders (3/3), particularly when the researchers are lecturers in journalism?
This is a case of conflict of interest. I’m not in the least surprised by the courts’ priority being a fair trial, rather than cases of facilitating salacious and sensational reporting in trials.
Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale
Suppression fuels gossip
How wrong are suppression orders? I sat at a cafe in the days after the Tom Silvagni suppression order was in place listening to a friend naming another well-known footballer as the culprit. Naming Silvagni would have stopped shameful gossip.
Louis Ferrari, Richmond
Lift tax-free threshold
There has been no adjustment for inflation to the tax-free threshold of $18,200 since July 2012, thus penalising the lowest paid workers, part-timers – probably women and students existing on meagre incomes.
Compare this to an age pensioner who receives nearly $30,000 a year tax free, which is indexed for inflation twice a year. Is this fair?
This doesn’t appear to be a problem anyone in government is addressing. Perhaps it is too hard or would cost too much to the budget’s bottom line.
Rosemary Ralph, Mount Eliza
One-sided coverage
Watching Channel Ten’s television coverage (1/3) of the Asian Cup soccer match involving the Matildas was embarrassing – an overwhelming coverage of the play and personalities on one side against an almost nameless opposition.
The players representing the Philippines also have names and playing histories and tactics. The impression given was that the match was about to become a walk in the park, so why bother showing any commentary skills?
A substandard performance all round.
Russell Harrison, Sandringham
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump’s world
Will Donald Trump’s quest for the Nobel Peace award be strengthened if he ends the war between the US and Iran?
Bill King, Camberwell
So the world’s most infamous draft dodger wants the unarmed Iranian people to rise up against one of the world’s most ruthless bunch, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Ted Brown, Moama
Unfortunately, Don’s “Operation Epic Fury″ and “Operation I thoroughly deserve the Nobel Peace Prize″ are two mutually exclusive events.
David West, Essendon
Let’s not pretend the current situation in the Middle East is a clear case of good guys versus bad guys. The USA and Israel blurred those lines a long time ago. There will be no winners.
Julie Perry, Highton
Will there be an uptick in the purchase of electric vehicles now that we’re concerned about crude oil price rises and Australia’s meagre fuel supply provisions? That would be ironic for Mr Trump.
Sue Peterken, Berwick
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson (″Labor failed Aussies″ 3/3) honestly believing any government can anticipate the machinations that pass for thinking in Donald Trump’s mind is laughable.
Peter McGill, Lancefield
I presume Andrew Hastie, who says he’s fine with the lack of a world order, would also be fine if the new hegemon becomes China.
Krystyna Lynch, Floreat, WA
Will the last Iranian still standing up change the regime, then turn off the lights please.
Ruth Davis, Carrum
Furthermore
How apt that someone (Letters, 3/3) from Surrey Hills wants to site data centres in Altona.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
Congratulations Magda, partly the result of many people donating to cancer research for many years. Everyone should congratulate themselves
Anne Kennedy, Surrey Hills
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