Shocking security bungle proves the US can no longer be trusted

The latest example of security incompetence in the US administration should be a wake-up call to us (“Senior Trump officials accidentally texted secret war plans to journalist,” March 25). We cannot trust the Americans to come to our help, if we need it, and we can’t rely on them to preserve sensitive information that we provide to them. We need the USA out of the Five Eyes alliance now before they cause us serious harm, and then we need to realign our security arrangements with Europe, hoping that the French are in a forgiving mood for the shabby and ill-judged treatment we accorded them over the submarines fiasco. Now that the Europeans have realised that the USA is a dangerous ally and are moving towards an independent stance, we should take advantage of the moment to make our marble good with them and link ourselves with whatever arrangements emerge over the next four years. With luck, Trump will demand a third term, and that should remove any lingering doubts that anybody might have about giving up our supposed friendly relations with the USA. The AUKUS deal should be the first thing to go. Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

After I read Michael Koziol’s report of the security breach emanating from Trump’s chaotic administration I immediately looked up the original source in The Atlantic (“The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans”, Jeffrey Goldberg). It shocked me. This is a country that is linked to our own security via multiple agencies, including the Five Eyes alliance that shares sensitive information with other countries. I hope the prime minister, the defence minister, the foreign affairs minister and the attorney-general are meeting to discuss the ramifications of such a security breach. I hope they would also include the opposition leader. This is an urgent threat, despite the slapstick nature of the incident, and one that needs serious attention. I remain puzzled that whenever we discuss “agents of foreign interests” it never appears to include those closely linked to the USA. Perhaps that also needs some close attention. Brian Everingham, Engadine

Perhaps the only thing surprising about the Trump administration mistakenly texting its war plans to the media was that Vladimir Putin was not included on the mailing list.
Peter Nash, Fairlight

Just a few days ago US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “Under the previous administration, we looked like fools. Not any more.” Facepalm. Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill

Hands off CSIRO

Parties heading into the coming election must announce clear policies about protecting the integrity of the CSIRO and any other Australian researchers committed to developing science and technology (“Trump goes after CSIRO”, March 25). If the US aims to continue funding in exchange for capitulation on matters of climate change, vaccination and diversity, then our government will need to dig deep and properly invest in the future of our nation. Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

I was alarmed to read that the CSIRO and other vital scientific research providers are so reliant on US funds, and therefore are easy targets for unhinged autocrats like Donald Trump. Australian Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt has sounded the warning, but is it too late? Why is it that our “leaders” are so slow to plan for and protect assets that give Australia its world-class edge? Mark Paskal, Austinmer

The chickens really do come home to roost, don’t they? Speaking as a rank and file chicken in this henhouse, I can say my eyes have really been opened by Donald Trump. Of course, I should have been paying attention, but I didn’t know most merchant ships are built in China. I also didn’t realise that our short-changing the CSIRO of research funds had sent them cap in hand to the US. I learn so much now that Trump is in charge of everything. Well, everything except war. He’s not doing too well at stopping those. Never mind, he apparently intends to be around indefinitely, so he will get to it all in time. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove

There was a time when the CSIRO was an Australian government-sponsored world leader, notable for innovation as well as the (anti) fashion dress code of many of its scientists – short-sleeve shirts, shorts, long white socks and sandals, all year round. Then we got neoliberal economics. Now we have a far lesser organisation whose staff, maybe, dress better. Sic transit gloria mundis. Oh, almost forgot: we’re spending $350 billion on American nuclear submarines. That would pay for a lot of science (and better clothes). Les Schmalzbach, Potts Point

Authoritarian rule

Peter Hartcher’s article is enlightening and frightening (“Sino’ the times in Trump’s America”, March 25). Sadly, it seems too few Americans are passionate enough about democracy to take advantage of their right to vote. However, it could well be their love of their individual rights which, ironically, will bring them together to stop their dictatorial president from dismantling democracy and taking away their jobs and their hope for equal rights to medical treatment, employment, education, clean energy, air and water, etc. Happily, Trump cannot achieve in four years what Chinese communism has taken 80 to attain. Margot Vaccari, Berowra

American democracy seems to house the seeds of its own destruction. The power of a president to issue apparently limitless executive orders has been cleverly exploited by Trump, gaining popular support in winding back excesses of the previous administration and furthering his objective to “make America great again”. The underlying political nature of the US judiciary is now on full display with decisions of Democrat-affiliated judges being interpreted as a rearguard action against the implementation of Trump’s policies. While all this polarisation and authoritarianism does not bode well for effective democracy, at least with Trump’s America (unlike Xi’s China) we get to see the saga play out in full public view. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Hartcher’s article reminded me of a 2018 report about a closed-door fundraiser meeting at which Donald Trump, still in his first term, commented on Xi Jinping’s move to become president for life. He said, “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump then added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day,” upon which people laughed and applauded. I don’t think anyone is laughing now. Vijay Khandelwali, Winston Hills

Peter Hartcher is finally questioning the US alliance. Wonders never cease. All he needs to understand is that the billionaires in the USA have been watching Chinese and Russian political systems and decided that they can benefit greatly from a model of authoritarian capitalism. No more constraint, and subjugation of the masses to their will with worshipful cults. The fact that Pratt, Palmer, Rinehart and other Australians of extreme wealth are cheerleaders of Trumpism indicates they share the authoritarian vision. This should be a warning for all Australians who value democracy as we know it. Peter Hull, Katoomba

Hartcher writes that Trump and Xi share autocratic personalities, and that Trump’s USA is becoming more and more like China. Hopefully, Trump’s influence will be limited to his four-year presidential term, and his departure will have USA returning to its traditional model of a largely open moderate democracy that it always was. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

More foe than friend

The presence of Donald Trump looms large not only in Canada and Australia, but in every country where elections are approaching (“Trump an ogre to Canada, just a puzzle to us”, March 25.) How could a man who, if not president, could well be in jail – a spiteful narcissist devoid of morals, wield such untrammelled power? Historians will reflect on the phenomenon. Kissing the ring would be a gross mistake. If neither Albanese nor Dutton can be sure he will turn out friend or foe, they should realise that with friends like Trump, you have no need of foes. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Trump demands “an implicit or explicit display of personal gratitude from US allies” but fails to recognise the benefits and support provided to the US by its traditional allies since World War II (“Politics of gratitude: How Trump insists on thanks from foreign leaders”, March 24). The Trump approach to US allies is often described as “transactional”, however transactions require the participation of at least two parties and reasonable consensus on what constitutes reality. The Trump approach is typically one-sided, self-focused, dictatorial and too often disconnected from reality. It is more indicative of a type of feudalism that hasn’t been seen since medieval Europe. Janette Hvistendahl, Currumbin Waters (Qld)

With Trump having a “Rinehart moment” over an unflattering portrait (“The presidential portrait Trump doesn’t want you to see”, March 25), how long will it be before a tariff on paintings is announced, and Donald Dutton suggests a royal commission into and/or stripping of citizenship of anybody upsetting billionaires? You’d think with all of their wealth, fame and power, these thin-skinned plutocrats could just take it on the chin. Chris Roylance, Paddington (Qld)

Politics of fish farming

For voters north of Tasmania, the government-guaranteed extinction of a rare skate is overshadowing vital facts about farming Atlantic salmon (“PM stares down revolt on pledge to salmon farms”, March 25). First, salmon are carnivores, so these feed-lot fish are a net loss of high-quality protein. Second, due to global heating of our waters, and the fact that the imprisoned salmon must swim in their own excrement, the fish are certain to keep suffering infections despite the increased use of antibiotics, so the industry in its current form is doomed anyway. Lastly, aquaponics and other land-based fish production systems offer sustainable, circular methods for producing food while also employing many people. Both Labor and Liberals have shown they care more for the profits of foreign-owned corporations than for the biosphere that provides Australians with healthy food and economic wellbeing. Please bear this in mind when voting. Bob Elliston, Howrah (Tas)

I read with increasing anger that the government seeks to sneak in amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in budget week to enable the salmon farms to keep killing off the endangered Mangean skate and other native fish species. The government says it’s a one-off, but it sets a dangerous precedent for similar actions to protect Labor (or Coalition) seats in the future. The deal struck with concerned Labor MPs is vague at best, promising that some time in the future a Labor government would create an EPA. No guarantee there that it wouldn’t be pulled again, or would be reintroduced in a weakened form. And all to protect a couple of Tasmanian seats? More likely, the consequences will be that marginal Labor seats such as Gilmore go to a pro-environment independent or Green candidate. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

The problems associated with salmon farming in Peter Singer’s article have been known for decades, yet the industry is kept going through political cowardice and the promise of big profits (“Planning tonight’s dinner? Don’t eat Atlantic salmon before reading this”, March 23). The facts are fully proven by the evidence and economics. Wake up, consumers. Only our selective buying can end this scam. Selective wild farming is a viable alternative to this destructive type of production and would allow us to consume salmon sustainably. Richard Hambly, Potts Point

Wriggle-down economics

Treasurer Jim Chalmers urges us to buy Australian-made products to help rescue the economy (“‘Buy Australian’ plan to counter US tariffs”, March 25). But are there any products still made in Australia? A quick check of my pantry, laundry, garage, garden shed and car could identify only one Australian-made product – a plastic extruded worm farm. Perhaps if we all bought up big on worm farms we might yet defeat Trump’s punishing tariffs. Eva Johnstone, Blackheath

Painful facts

The amount of money required to fund PPEP (Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program) talk sessions for all public schools in NSW must be orders of magnitude less than other “really important” projects, such as new stadiums (“This program is helping girls stay in school, but NSW students are missing out”, March 24). And why do we constantly hear on the news about groin injuries and torn ACLs but not the severe pain some females endure for decades due to their biology? Regrettably it seems that leaving it up to overburdened teachers delivering PDHPE and/or the Pelvic Pain Foundation simply cannot meet the need, and incredibly one in 10 recently surveyed students were able to obtain pain relief only by visiting an emergency department. How disgraceful. Miriam Frommer, Darlinghurst

Review fatigue

After receiving prompt assistance from my work’s software company this morning, I was asked to provide a positive review by the operator who got the issue sorted. Yes, no problem. But it got me thinking about the stress that must hang over the heads of service operators day in, day out as they do their jobs. Even after a delivery arrives, within the hour there is a message or email: “How did we go?” Well, how about companies just start concentrating on the negative feedback when they receive it, rather than creating unnecessary anxiety for those who must receive positive feedback as part of their work. Just take it that all is OK, and if it is not, I will advise. Bernadette Scadden, Earlwood

Coalition rewrites history

The shadow finance minister was on the news talking about the Labor Party’s inability to manage the budget. According to Jane Hume, the ALP had no fiscal discipline, spending was out of control and only the Coalition could balance the budget and bring back fiscal discipline. She was short on detail and seems to forget the Coalition’s record on fiscal discipline. One example is its costings on Snowy 2, which has blown out threefold. I expect the nuclear fantasy will also blow out by a similar proportion. The next time Hume talks down Labor and talks up the Coalition’s credentials, keep this in mind. Ed Gaykema, Kiama

Towering concern

In so many parts of Britain, they are demolishing tower buildings, not mostly for structural reasons but because they have found tower blocks are not the best places for families to live happily, given they are crowded, lifts don’t work, there are fire dangers and too many social problems, and they lack play or recreational areas. Here, we are building more and more towers for people to live in. Are we adding safe areas? Working lifts? Green space around them? Or are we just copying British housing towers and hoping the problems will go away? Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

Margin callouts

I recently read an article in which a farmer asked the government to supply consumers with the prices supermarkets pay them for their products. That seems fair to me. What other products could be included, so that consumers can get an idea the profit margins of these organisations? In the light of supermarkets making record profits, I think it’s a good idea, but don’t hold your breath. Mike Keene, Mollymook Beach

‘Clean freaks’

Jacqueline Wilson has obviously had her nose pressed up against my windows while I clean (“I was a professional cleaner. Here are all the things men do wrong”, March 24). This peeping Tom is what us men folk would call a clean freak. A bit of gunge and bacteria sharpens up your immune system, and “speed cleaning” leaves us with more time to pick the lint out of our navels. In all seriousness, it was an interesting tip about towels not going in with clothing. You learn something new every day. Paul Davies, Crows Nest

Price of words

No wonder the saying: “People who claim talk is cheap have never hired a lawyer” (“The dodgy vet, the pet detective and the million-dollar legal battle”, March 25). Edward Loong, Milsons Point

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