Sir, - Mark O’Connell goes into convincing detail to illustrate how Donald Trump is unfit for office (“Trump said something unexpectedly revealing in an old interview with Playboy”, Opinion, March 22nd).
The most chilling quote attributed to Trump involves a casual reference to Cuba, in which he says: ”I think I can do anything I want with it.”
Unfortunately, one could argue the same concerns arise in respect of Israel. Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is currently before the Israeli courts on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest in relation to alleged war crimes.
Israel has attacked Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Gaza and Lebanon without any serious parliamentary scrutiny or oversight. The Israeli government has made numerous attempts to dismiss and undermine the attorney general because of her opposition to judicial reforms and security policy. The country’s supreme court has consistently blocked these attempts and the Israeli chief justice is now under constant political pressure and, indeed, threats from government ministers.
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The checks and balances we assume are there to protect democratic institutions do not appear to work in Israel or the US. Criticisms from the West of political systems in Russia and China now seem somewhat hollow. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN MCDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, - Pat Leahy suggests Donald Trump may have passed the peak of his powers (“Trump is stuck and looking for options – an Irish former US adviser warns this is risky”, Opinion, March 21st). Perhaps this is the case. He may surprise us, though, by pushing the boundaries further on his arrogance, narcissism, cruelty, ignorance and capacity to cause global chaos and harm.
I have to add that I wrote the above and thought better of sending it. Trump’s subsequent social media post celebrating the death of Robert Mueller, former director of the FBI, convinced me to reconsider. – Yours, etc.
RONAN MCDERMOTT,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Donald Trump says California governor Gavin Newsom would be unfit to become US president because of his dyslexia.
Last week, the US president praised his hero, Winston Churchill. Trump is unhappy with UK prime minister Keir Starmer, who won’t back his “excursion” into Iran. He rudely remarked of Starmer that he is no Churchill.
There is evidence to suggest Winston Churchill was one of the more famous people with dyslexia.
I do wish Trump would heed the words of his fellow American, Mark Twain: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” – Yours, etc,
EITHNE MACFADDEN,
Carrigart,
Co Donegal.
