Dr Tim Anderson, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, has dismissed the sarin gas attack in the Idlib province as a "hoax" and called Syria's six-year civil war a "fiction" perpetrated by the US "to destroy an independent nation" (The Age, 12/4). Being anti-colonial power is fine, even admirable. Too many Western powers have interfered in the Middle East. But Dr Anderson should do his homework. Look at the origins of the Syrian catastrophe: decades of fascist and corrupt development under al-Assad, father and son. Almost every community body – the Communist Party, student unions, even the Boy Scouts – were co-opted by the regime. The secret police (Mukhabarat) arrested, tortured and often killed those who resisted the government's "charms".
The initial "rebellion" was seen to be in Deraa in 2011 but Syria was already reeling from an six-year economic black hole where 60per cent of the population was in dire poverty. The President's cousin (Rami Makhlouf) was a multi-billionaire, thanks to family connections, and the UN was distributing flour to starving Syrians. Because some Syrians "jacked up", the regime called them terrorists and the President's younger brother Maher sent in the Fourth Division tanks to quell the local citizens. He then stationed snipers to shoot anyone on the streets. Thousands of Syrians were detained and many never reappeared. The rebellion was purely economic but, sadly, the way Bashar al-Assad handled it encouraged the wild-eyed Islamists to later enter the fray. As a former visitor/resident of Damascus, I am appalled. When Assad is out of the equation, millions of Syrians will want to return to their homeland.
John Simmonds, Collingwood
Have we learnt nothing from Iraq and Libya?
Foreign minister Julie Bishop says the preferred political solution in Syria requires transition of power from the Assad regime, with negotiations involving opposition forces. Who are these "mythical" opposition forces favoured by Western powers and how much of the Syrian population do they represent? Currently there is a mosaic of militia armed by various countries and showing the same enthusiasm for fighting each other as with fighting Assad. The Western powers have not learned any lessons from the mess created in Iraq and Libya. The forced replacement of despots (who at least provide an organised state with basic functions) with ragtag fanatical groups (mostly in the service of other powers) is not a step towards democratic change.
Fethon Naoum, Portland
Surely Russians are crying for the babies too
The real reason Russia behaves as it does in Syria is because of its paranoia about losing its naval bases at Tartus. If Assad were to lose the battle, the Syrian opposition would want the Russians out of the country because Russia's behaviour has done nothing to endear itself to so many Syrians. Maybe it is time for Syria's anti-Assad opposition to negotiate a long-term lease at an attractive rental for the facilities that Russia now uses anyway. I cannot believe Russia's mothers and grandmothers are not as traumatised as we are by the pictures of babies being slaughtered.
John Coffey, Fitzroy North
Spare us your hypocritical fury
All this confected outrage about the use of chemical weapons in Syria from the nations that, for years, employed napalm against the Vietnamese is the height of hypocrisy. Napalm is petrol or a similar fuel that has been chemically treated so that it sticks to the skin of the burning victim. The mainstream discourse in these nations suffers from a chronic case of selective amnesia. Shameful.
Bernie McMahon, North Melbourne
THE FORUM
Aim for prevention...
So Opposition Leader Matthew Guy wants to impose mandatory sentencing and lock up offenders for longer periods. Great, but are Victorians prepared to cover the cost of $100,000+plus per prisoner per year, as well as the hundreds of millions to build and run new prisons? His proposal is misleading and an ineffective solution; it should be dismissed. Greater investment in prevention measures and identifying the reasons for repeat offending will provide better outcomes for Victoria.
Michael Blee, Brighton
...and rehabilitation
We have just seen the opening bid in the four-yearly, law and order auctions when Liberal and Labor parties propose increasingly harsh prison sentences in order to appear "tough on crime". I am not inclined to buy. I want governments to get tough on the causes of crime. Why not increase funding to schools in our most disadvantaged areas? We do not provide enough rehabilitation programs for the prisoners who will, sooner or later, be released to live among us. Do all those who are in prison for drug-related offences need to be there? Research into why crimes occur, and putting resources into the unglamorous task of prevention, might get more results than increasing the suffering of those who get caught.
Tim Read, Brunswick East
Victims of negligence
There appears to be much public demand to lock up youth offenders. Where is the taxpayer outrage at the waste of public money and the debts incurred by young people attending private colleges that have closed due to corruption or mismanagement (The Age, 13/4)? What disillusionment and despair they must suffer. It borders on the obscene that the former Evocca is now trading as ACTE and again receives public funds. Negligence is being rewarded. What example does this set for the young?
Iris Owen, East Geelong
What a great read
What a contrast between the thoughtful, considered ideas of former judge Tony Fitzgerald (Comment, 13/4) and the self-indulgent, ideological rants of regular columnist and former Liberal politician Amanda Vanstone. More from the former in the Age, please.
Michael Faulkner, Toora
Say no to Adani mine
Resources Minister Matt Canavan says: "If we don't supply India with coal, other countries will". This statement is not true. India is aiming to end the importation of coal. If the supply of something is more scarce (there is less of it), then it becomes more expensive and alternatives will be found.
By stopping the supply of coal, we will be helping India achieve its aims to end the importation of it and ramp up solar power generation to 100GW by 2022. Adani's Carmichael coal mine should be stopped to achieve better health for Indians.
Andrew Gemmell, Glenroy
Protect environment
The proposed Adani mine is a declaration of war on the environment. Its impact on Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef and global carbon dioxide emissions will be immense, and it will invalidate any advances Australia has made in renewable energy.
By supporting this mine, the government is making it clear that it is happy to sacrifice Australia's future wellbeing for the greed of a generation of elderly men and their power-hungry followers. As a baby boomer, I am ashamed. Our shame will follow us well past the grave.
Naomi Hall, Blackburn
Taxes, the big picture
The tax on an Australian family earning $82,000 a year has risen to the second highest rate in the developed world, OECD figures show (The Age, 12/4). However, this is misleading as anyone who has lived in Europe can report.
Take Germany: yes, a family on the equivalent of $82,000 may pay 21per cent income tax. However, by the time it has paid the additional, compulsory social insurances (health, income protection, nursing, retirement), the rate is closer to 40per cent.
Do they get value for money? You bet. Parental leave, health cover (including proper mental health care), a certain percentage of their income for 12 months if they are made redundant, good public transport (including "bullet trains" connecting all major cities), subsidised childcare, free tertiary education, secure housing, renewable energy and a commitment to cutting greenhouse gases. Germany has a populace and government committed to planning for the future and progressing as a community.
Catherine Carter, Hawthorn
Stand up to racism
Racism in football is not new (Sport, 12/4). There is recorded history from 90years ago, when an outstanding Aboriginal player left Carlton Football Club because its masseurs would not touch his "black" skin. He transferred to Fitzroy, represented Victoria four times, and came third in the Brownlow Medal. Subsequently he became a pastor, was knighted and became governor of South Australia.
I tell this story about Sir Doug Nicholls to students, as part of empowering them to stand up against bullying and racism. Initially they imagine things have changed for the better, until we discuss the treatment of Adam Goodes. I can now add Eddie Betts. Understanding the pain that victims suffer from racism can inspire our youth to not be bystanders when they see injustice. To Carlton's great credit, in 2016 it acknowledged the mistreatment Nicholls suffered by apologising to his family.
Les Kausman, Courage to Care, Hawthorn East
The impossible dream
To the politicians who say it is the youth and their inability to save, or they squander savings on smashed avocado, or they should relocate to the country where jobs are sparse, or they should use their superannuation to assist us in buying their first homes: those who have reaped the rewards and have the power to change the housing crisis are not willing to address the elephant in the room. While negative gearing exists, the divide between the rich and the poor will continue to increase and housing will remain unaffordable.
Alana Eastaugh, Melbourne
The voters will turn
Does the the federal Coalition's right-wing think it is just fine to threaten the stability of our housing-based, national economy to align with its determination to protect tax dodges for the better off? Who is to blame when the housing market comes off the boil? It will be time for a change of government.
Kerry Smith, Clifton Hill
Protect young families
It is highly unlikely that people on less than $80,000 would stump up to a $400,000 investment property without putting up other security, such as their home or other guarantees. Scott Morrison, stop trying to protect your voter base, start making it harder for investors, and protect young families. Increasing building stock will not help first-home buyers because they will still be competing with investors. Beware, because many welded-on Liberals are seeing their kids miss out on being able to house their grandchildren.
Chris Morgan, Northcote
Losers – and winners
Jennifer Duke ("A focus on tenants marks a shift in housing debate", Comment, 13/4), you are incorrect to assume all 67per cent of property owners would find a drop in prices "unpalatable". When I sell my home to downsize, I would also be paying less. It sounds fair to me.
Ralph Frank, Malvern East
Too many fare evaders
Roger Fernando says many people who board his bus but do not use a myki (Letters, 12/4). Roger, pick any bus route – the system is bleeding money. So many passengers do not pay and the poor drivers seem to be powerless to check fares. As for inspectors, they are apparent in their absence. Public Transport Victoria seems to assume that everyone has a conscience. What rubbish. Some passengers do not give a damn. The trouble is, the rest of us are paying for them. How long will it be before we choose civil disobedience out of our own frustration?
Clare Lyons, Sunshine
Protecting Victorians
When I was a volunteer firefighter in the 1960s, there was ill feeling between the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and CFA volunteers whom MFB staffers viewed as well-meaning amateurs. Within the CFA, there was also some tension between urban and rural brigades. Today, we need well-trained, paid firefighters to safeguard regional and urban Victoria and all of greater metropolitan Melbourne. It is time to allow our volunteers to continue their great work in rural areas under the guidance and direction of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. It has primary responsibility for tackling forest fires and the capability to organise a network of well-trained volunteers.
James Young, Mount Eliza
From our hearts
Congratulations to the brilliant Michael Leunig for his words and sentiments re John Clarke's death (Letters, 12/4). Thank you for saying all the things we would have liked to have said.
Sally Perry, Gooram
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Build a rail link to Melbourne Airport, then turn over the hundreds of hectares of private car parks to affordable housing.
Steve Baird, Fairfield
Comical Sean.
Graeme Henchel, Yarra Glen
Barnaby changes his mind with new information? Really? More like: "My mind's made up. Don't confuse me with facts.
Peter Western, Leongatha
The unemployed want jobs, not blame and fake solutions like the work-for-the dole program.
Peter Bear, Mitcham
Hanson bans the ABC again? That's the trouble with Pauline. She's had a gutful of everything. Always.
Dave Mack, Macclesfield, SA
In years to come, will we have a chance to remember where we were or what we were doing on the day Cold War 2.0 began?
Roderick Carmichael, St Kilda
Adani
Why would taxpayers support the Adani coal mine while the car industry was left to die?
Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill
Black lung and scorched earth with the Adani mine.
Don Stewart, Port Fairy
Furthermore
John Clarke and Brian Dawe were the only people who gave some sense to our political farnarkling.
Rob Park, Surrey Hills
Even John Clarke would have noted the irony of his death near Mount Abrupt. So very sad.
Cynthia Humphreys, Toorak
Thank you, John (and Bryan). Thank you, Leunig (and The Age).
Nancy Rowlands, Soldiers Hill
Michael Leunig, don't you ever leave us.
Margot Milne, Geelong West
I think the proposal for the Shepparton Commonwealth games will be canned.
John Rawson, Mernda