NewsBeat
Is US ‘relying’ on Russia? Readers weigh in on the Iran War
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
‘When you need to rely on your worst enemy, you need to reconsider your battle plan’
As energy prices rise sharply, support for the ‘war’ against Iran eases and the definition of friend and foe becomes near interchangeable.
How? Because the US has lifted sanctions on Russian oil so that energy prices won’t escalate and Republicans don’t get the blame and lose a number of midterm seats. When you need to rely on your worst enemy, you need to reconsider your battle plan, Mr President. Dennis Fitzgerald, via email
Iran war has not ‘occurred in a vacuum of no provocation’ says reader
Anna Romano’s letter against the war in Iran (MetroTalk, Fri) misses the point on so many levels.
Regardless of the fact that there are other countries in the region with repressive regimes – Anna names Saudi Arabia – Iran is the only country in the region killing tens of thousands of its own people, as well as backing terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis who continue to cause violence and create instability across the Middle East. Also, although anti-war sentiment doesn’t necessarily equate to support for Iran, it does lead to such a brutally repressive and terrorist-supporting regime acting with impunity.
As for previous failed military interventions such as in Afghanistan –these in themselves do not negate the fact that, rightly or wrongly, there are also successful military ones.
Finally, Anna’s quote from Judge Robert Jackson about the Nazis starting World War II being in itself a crime is not comparable here, as this is neither a widespread war (even its Arab neighbours don’t support Iran) nor has it occurred in a vacuum of no provocation. Paul, London
Will Iran war change migration habits?
An ironic thought, came to me. We have a lot of ‘illegal migrants’ coming to our shores to escape countries involved in wars – yet here we are, by implication, involved in a war with Iran. Will this see a change in the numbers seeking refuge? Paul Billson, Baldock
We should platform more kindness in response to hate, reader says
Thank you for running the story ‘Face of UK meets hate with dates’ (Metro, Wed).
This was about British-born London market trader Syed Usman Shah, who shamed trolls into apologising after he was racially abused when his image was used to welcome visitors to Heathrow.
He responded by inviting abusers to his Date Sultan stall in Borough Market for a free feed. Some took him up on the offer.
There is a lot of this sort of thing going on and it rarely gets a mention. More please. Bryan, Watford
‘Politicians at all levels need to hear how much we care about the climate’
It was great to read your interview with Chris Packham about his YouTube video Greenwashed, a ‘public-service resource’ relating to the environmental crisis (Metro, Mar 4). One way to tackle the horrors he describes is through how we vote – politicians at all levels need to hear how much we care about the climate and nature so that they take more urgent action. The next opportunity for many to do this is in the local elections on May 7.
Anyone joining voteclimate.uk will get a recommendation in April for how to vote tactically to help tackle climate change. Peter Moore, Shipbourne
Reader enjoyed Mother’s Day tribute
Thank you to Simon Gage for his lovely tribute to mothers for Mother’s Day (Metro, Wed). Sadly my mum has passed away but it felt like he was writing about her. Lizzie, Liverpool
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
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