Iran's Revolutionary Guard displays a ballistic missileTuesdayduring a pro-government demonstration in downtown Tehran, Iran.
No end in sight
The keywords used in the international news media about President Trump are "bluffing" and "deal-making." What now, Mr. President? You have a horrible war on your hands you cannot win.
The West depends too much on Iranian and Arabian oil, and hence on the open traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The massive attacks by Israel and the USA against Iran have not achieved any significant breakthrough, but they have revealed how weak we really are. Sure, the Iranian leadership has been eliminated, but the regime is still strong in its power. All our Arabic allies had to realize that we cannot fully protect them. All the U.S. military posts have been attacked by Iran or were destroyed.
Yes, Mr. President, you are in dire straits, and not only in Hormuz. Every day that passes without peace, the entire West is losing, and Iran is winning.
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This war has created the greatest energy crisis since the 1970s, and Trumps complete failure as commander-in-chief is glaringly obvious.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
The despicable coup
In Virginia, 51.8% of voters cast their votes for Harris, while 46.0% voted for Trump. Currently, in Virginia, there are six Democratic and five Republican Representatives. However, with the new gerrymandering law just passed in Virginia, it is anticipated that there will be 10 Democratic and one Republican Representatives. Although the liberal Democrats prate about the threats to democracy, this is a step too far. This action is the destruction of democracy in its most guttural sense and illustrates the absolute addiction to absolute power. This is absolute tyranny to the concept of representative government but is not surprising. Emulating the crack addict, Democrats will do anything to maintain power. Lie, cheat, prevaricate. According to those same Democrats, this country is going to hell in a handbasket, yet 做厙勛圖 is thriving, no bread lines, a comfortable lifestyle for most, and a habitable environment. With this insatiable desire for power, every Republican should be concerned that they will be treated like Jews in 1943 Germany in the near future.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
May Day
Let's be clear about the purpose of the May Day Strong protest downtown in front of the main library at Jacome Plaza at 10 a.m. on May 1. Trump is asking for a nearly 50% increase in the military budget. As historian Tim Snyder writes, this amounts to the wealth of working Americans being transferred to oligarchs and defense contractors, while more than $1 trillion is proposed to be cut from social safety net programs, like disability services, food stamps, senior employment programs, "flat-funding" the Social Security Administration, Medicaid and childcare. Workers over Billionaires" is what the May Day Strong protest is all about, as well as demonstrating against Trump making every effort to rig the Midterm elections.
Mitchell Anderson
Catalina
Proposal to protect unvaccinated
Re: AZ bill seeks protections for unvaccinated (Star, April 22)
As it has been my privilege to practice medicine in Arizona for the last 50 years, I cannot stay silent in the face of this attack on the safety of the community. And rest assured, that is what this is.
If you doubt that, please consider what this would mean: People would not have to wear a mask in public or private spaces, even in an epidemic, thus giving them the right to infect others. They would have the right to bring a contagious disease into a workplace where others are vulnerable, and their employer would be forbidden to stop them. They could send their unvaccinated children into a school where others are vulnerable, and the school cannot stop their endangering other children.
To the legislators who frame this as individual rights: No: There is no Constitutional right to harm others. And, as a physician, my responsibility is to protect my patients and staff, regardless of your law.
Abraham R. Byrd III, M.D.
North side
Not a debate, a warning
At this point, SunTran isnt a debate, its a warning. Nineteen violent incidents in just a year isnt background noise, its a pattern.
The citys response feels careful where it should be decisive. Plans, studies, and upgrades are fine, but they read like delays when people are openly saying they dont feel safe.
This isnt about fares anymore. Its about whether the situation is being treated with the seriousness its already reached.
Right now, it doesnt feel like it is.
You can almost hear it between bus stops. A tension humming under fluorescent lights.
Voices raised, then swallowed. Metal benches holding more than waiting. Sirens echoing after the fact, not before.
A ride that should be routine, now edged with doubt.
Drakovi Bloodrose
Midtown
Department of Injustice
The only thing safe in America today is the Epstein files.
Terry Louck
East side
Accurate name for new law
HB2248 prohibits requiring medical interventions (including vaccinations) for jobs or benefits. It claims to be about freedoms, particularly my freedom to expose you to potentially fatal diseases because I have no obligation to consider the welfare of others. I propose the bill should accurately be called the "Bring back Typhoid Mary Law." It's a shame Republicans put groveling to debunked conspiracy nuts over common sense and their duty to protect the public from actual avoidable dangers.
Gordon Douglas
Bisbee
We have a choice in CD6
To even the casual reader of the 做厙勛圖's letters to the editor section over the past year, it is obvious CD6's representative Juan Ciscomani is not honestly serving his constituents' needs. The LTEs repeatedly recount actual experiences with lack of constituent access, votes taken harming a large number of residents in his district and the local office or DC staff's refusal to state the congressman's positions. Staff repeatedly say, "I have not spoken to the congressman about this issue." Well, it seems no one "speaks" to the congressman except Republican Party elites.
But we do have a choice. Joanna Mendoza, (www.joannamendoza.com) running as a Democrat against Juan Ciscomani is a credible, well-funded and "dedicated lifelong public servant" who will represent CD6 with honor and integrity -- traits instilled from her more than two decades of military service. Learn more. Donate. Vote.
Fran McNeely
Northeast side
Iran war
The Strait of Hormuz has been seen as a strategic area for some time. The Portuguese knew this when they captured it 500 years ago. So, if a country is planning a war with Iran, it should be a consideration. The strait is a very busy shipping lane, and as we have seen, it affects the world economy. None of Iran's moves in the strait should be surprising. Except it seems this administration was unprepared for Iran's response. It also seems that Iran might feel they are winning this engagement. I don't know, I am just a retired guy watching the news. But it makes me wonder how the decision to go to war was made. Was it a discerned, well-thought-out decision? I am beginning to think, no. So how does the Trump administration get out of this without making concessions to Iran? The whole mess seems to have made matters a lot worse.
Daniel McDonnell
Foothills
Senators of character
In view of the absence of character and courage in the majority of Republican members of Congress, I submit that if we still had a Barry Goldwater or John McCain alive today, Donald Trump might not have the abominable loyalty, approval, and acceptance he currently has for his illegal, unconstitutional actions. In addition, let's address Loyal Johnson's blatant letter suggesting that WWII could have been avoided since there was "obvious knowledge" of Germany and Japan's massive military buildup. First and foremost, thanks to U.S. Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge's insistence on U.S. isolation after WWI, the U.S. regrettably didn't sign the League of Nations Treaty. As a result, Germany's economy was devastated, which certainly led to the rise of Hitler. In addition, the U.S. and much of the world had to deal with the 1929 Great Depression. In conclusion, there was complete approval for entering the war against Germany and Japan. However, there is worldwide disapproval of Trump's illegal war against Iran.
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
