Lest we forget who sent the soldiers – Sydney Morning Herald

Armies are designed to bring the enemy to battle and destroy their capacity to fight normally by killing or capturing them or forcing them into untenable positions. Handing over "suspected combatants" to civil courts with a brief of evidence that is probably not substantial enough to meet judicial standards is not the way the military expects to operate, and seeing many of them released to possibly fight again can only be injurious to morale.

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Along with the opprobrium, a degree of sympathy and understanding must be extended to military personnel who have been given an almost unwinnable conflict to engage in. - Lance Rainey, Lanitza

While I am not always an admirer of MP Andrew Hastie's views, he should be admired for taking on the culture that blindly celebrates "heroics" and refuses to be held accountable. It is a sad reflection that so many current and past politicians have not just stood behind these "heroes" but have openly erected and supported the barriers to any accountability (including attacking the messengers) for their actions. - Bernie de Vries, Bolwarra

An SAS officer who is being investigated for alleged war crimes still wears the label of hero. This reminds me of what Bertolt Brecht said: unhappy is the land that needs heroes. - Paul Hardage, Leura

To all the war hawks, the "tough on terror" rah-rahs, the vicious "appeaser!" white feather tossers, the unanimous Murdoch keyboard warriors, the sickly sentimental Anzac Day boozers and "our brave Diggers" fetishists, the lazy, the ignorant and the cynical, who together sent our soldiers to war in Iraq and Afghanistan without thinking it properly through: this is now we civilians time to stand up and get behind our soldiers.

Whatever crimes theyve committed, the moral burden is ours to own. So, Australia, are we going to own it? Or abandon our Diggers exactly when they need us to do some heavy lifting on their behalf? My suggestion is that, as then, its up to John Howard to lead the way in assuming collective national responsibility. Happy with that, John? - Jack Robertson, Birchgrove

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes is to be congratulated when he says that Nor should we use population growth as a lazy proxy for economic growth (Numbers game needs right answers, September 23).He is right in that control of population policy, such as it is, should not be just within the realm of treasurers but also those who can really see and understand the entirety of the problem and wrangle it back under control.It is terrifying that this continents population looks set to double within 30 years. Were not now properly handling the consequences of our current numbers, let alone a doubling in a generation. - Peter Neufeld, Mosman

Stokes commendably rejects the notion of growing the population for its own sake. Why then does he use the pejorative term stagnant population when he actually means stable population? Stabilising population has to be a viable alternative to accommodating endless growth when considering a national settlement strategy. - Jenny Goldie, Cooma

Current population strategy is a thumbs up to everyone who wants to come here with money to prop up the economy and a middle finger to anyone who dares to question this because they think the land and water cannot support the current population, much less an extra million every five years (Plea for national population strategy, September 23). - David Neilson, Invergowrie

I believe the summit is underpinned by the premise that we need population growth. On the plus side, there is economic growth and profits for the big end of town.But on the negative side is more environmental destruction, massive infrastructure expense for the taxpayer, more gridlock on our roads, increased pollution and waste management problems, a future of water restrictions and struggling education and hospital systems. The list goes on. Does the positive outweigh all the negatives? - Shane Nunan, Finley

Anthony Albanese is right when he says Cuts and delays to urban rail projects have had an ongoing negative impact (Absence of planning bound to cost Australia dearly in future, September 23). But there is also a major negative impact in Sydney as the state government insists on investing in only so-called metro rail that can be privatised.The best and quickest investment would be upgrading the existing double deck system, particularly the outdated signalling, to improve train speed and headways. - Geoff Wannan, Dawes Point

The smiling, bitter, vengeful assassin (Artless and angry after all these years, September 21-22). An appalling and inappropriate choice for such an important role. What can Scott Morrison be thinking! - Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick

Pauline Hanson may well be wrong (Statistics contradict Hansons claim that Family Court is anti-men'', September 21-22). So too, the protection of women from the prevalence of violence in domestic life is a paramount concern. Yet what do you say to the men who make up the small percentage who have been dudded by the family law system?As a rural solicitor for over 25 years, I have direct experience (albeit a small number) where it was the man that was the victim of violence. It was the man who was shut out from his childrens lives. It was the man who got worked over by the cost of attempting to get a fair go.In the hands of the family law specialists, artfully directing their clients affidavit exaggerated claims or even fabricated stories are not that uncommon, sadly. Unless the case goes to trial say goodbye to probably $50,000 at least such affidavits are never tested.Some mechanism to check the veracity of claims at an early stage of the process is certainly required. Dads and their children often end up way short of where they ought to be because the cost and the scale of the mountain ahead of them is too much. There is no help when minority means you. They just end up consenting. - John Gibson, Kyogle

I have been caught up in a domestic violence case for nearly two years now since my daughter and her two-year-old son left an abusive situation and came to live with us. It has been a shocking eye-opener for me. We have attended local court four times often the hearing was postponed and what an inefficient and hopeless system it is. Indeed, the system gives the benefit of the doubt to men. My daughter was grilled and made out to look like a liar for about an hour. Her partner did not receive the same treatment and all the charges were subsequently dropped. He lied through his teeth.I am terrified of what may happen in a custody battle next year when the AVO is finally lifted. This man is indeed dangerous and manipulative, but I fear the courts will override this and put a small boy in his custody for some of the time. It beggars belief. - Name withheld, NSW

Surely the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission must find that strip-searches are a disproportionate response to drug use (Police to face questions over strip-search of teenager, September 23). If taken out of context, strip-searching would be rightly seen as extreme sexual assault. Cavity searches would be seen as rape. The idea that society is condoning sexual assault as a measure to prevent drug abuse is disproportionate and should be stopped. - Peter Olive, Marrickville

A new report indicates climate warming is happening faster than anticipated (Defining time for efforts to save climate is now: UN report, September 23). While Merkel, Modi and Johnson prepare to talk global warming at a UN conference, Morrison and Trump are talking up cardboard. Maybe Trump was right to call our man titanium man, not because hes strong, but because hes incredibly light. - Brian Waldron, Woolloomooloo

I read that our PM opened a factory in Ohio owned by Australian businessman Richard Pratt. Perhaps we can have a new slogan: If you have a go, youll get a go, make your way to Ohio. - Paul Tocchini, Manly

When Tin Man returns to the Emerald City, will he find a heart? - Vicky Marquis, Glebe

Am I the only one who thinks Morrison has gifted NASA $150 million for their venture to Mars because that is where he intends to send those on Newstart, asylum seekers and those pesky climate kids? (Australia aims for the moon with sliver of $12b NASA pie, September 23). Remember in space, no one can hear you scream. - Craig Jory, Glenroy

So as not to break promises to an esteemed US leader, could Morrison rename the Carmichael Basin the moon and the Liverpool Plains Mars? Then his $150 million could support Australian industries to grasp the opportunity for large solar power installations. The 300,000 or so Australians who were among millions around the world protesting in support of protecting Earth would be led to believe that you, Mr Morrison, like us, live on this little blue sphere and care about its future. - Ken Rubeli, Bandon Grove

Nobody younger than 80 would have any recollection of what took place on December 7, 1941, nor what followed in the ensuing four years, when friendship between America and Australia hardened into mateship, and it was encouraging to hear our prime minister refer to it in discussion with the US president. It was embarrassing, however, to hear ingrates from his own country denigrating him for doing so. They obviously have no concept of what it implies. - Ron Elphick, Buff Point

Its very clear that Trump wants something, be it support for military intervention in Iraq or agreement on trade sanctions with China. Morrison is an ad man in a past life and would be easily impressed by Trump and the accompanying pomp and ceremony as part of a more sinister pitch from a consummate salesman. Previous PMs have been easily seduced by similar ceremony, almost always with poor consequences. Remember Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq: we should be concerned. -Max Redmayne, Russell Lea

From the climate change rally in The Domain, I went to the art gallery to look again at WC Piguenits landscape The Flood in the Darling 1890. It should be compulsory viewing for those who are making decisions on the Murray Darling Basin. The contrast between his vision of the Darling and the appalling state of our inland rivers today could not be starker. How could we have come to this? - Margaret McDonald, Northbridge

Richard Murnane asks what was an appropriate costume for an Arabian Nights party (Letters, September 21-22). Twenty-five years ago, I convinced my boyfriend to wear a gold vest, purple satin baggy pants and a feathered turban, his pale skin au naturel but with lashings of baby oil. I assured him everyone would be in costume. The women were. The men wrapped tea towels around their heads. He has refused to wear fancy dress ever since. Nevertheless, we did marry, in civilian clothes. - Eva Elbourne, Normanhurst

OK, I am sorry. It was me parading as Bob Marley at a rock-star fancy dress party circa 83 in Brisbane. The bad accent, the dreadlocks and face paint: all fake. The many joints: well they were real. - Paul Taylor, Murwillumbah

Last Saturday I drove 80 kilometres to see Hair at Wyongs Art House theatre. Wow! It was even better when I saw it at the Metro Theatre, Kings Cross 50 years ago (for my 21st). Top-notch actors, singers, dancers and musicians. But why so few performances? Only five at Wyong and just six at the Opera House opening Thursday. Is it too politically incorrect for this less liberated age? - Pamela Mawbey, Brookvale

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Lest we forget who sent the soldiers - Sydney Morning Herald