They are goons who don't understand Jesus

They are goons who don’t understand Jesus

I’m one of the “chattering classes” that Matt Walsh correctly predicts will condemn our undeclared war with Iran ("This is justified retaliation, March 5). 

It is clear that Donald Trump doesn’t know the meaning of “obliterate.” If he did, there was no need to drop 5,000-10,000 bombs on a foreign country whose nuclear capabilities we recently “obliterated.”

It’s also clear that neither he nor Mr. Walsh understands the meaning of “proportionate.” Mr. Walsh justified our attack as “self-defense” in part because of the killing of 241 U.S. troops in Lebanon 53 years ago. So, our Christian response, 53 years later is, “I’ll see your 241 and raise you 1,200 civilians, including 200 school girls.” 

That’s just the total in Iran at this time and doesn’t include the 500 killed in Lebanon and who knows how many others in how many countries!

And, in the ungodly words of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, “We’re just getting started!” 

What will be the end result? 

We’re partnering with a man who, in response to the horrific deaths of 1,500 people, has killed an estimated 70,000 people and left an entire region in rubble! 

I guess none of these goons understands the teachings of Jesus, who counseled us to “turn the other cheek.” 

Let’s cut the pretense that we are a Christian nation! We’ve gone from a president “who cannot tell a lie” to a president “who cannot tell the truth,” including his pathetic attempt to blame our bombing of a girls school on Iran.

We’ve gone from a president (JFK) who did not want to emulate Tojo to a president who embraces Tojo’s tactics. 

Although the Nobel Peace Prize loser doesn’t understand basic Christian concepts, such as love, mercy, forgiveness and tolerance, he fully embraces the un-Christian concepts of hate, anger, vengeance and retribution. 

For those struggling to make sense of this, the justifications from Trump and his sycophants range from preventing an imminent nuclear threat, to taking out ballistic missiles, to regime change, to freeing the Iranian people, to supporting an ally, to preemptively hitting them because they were going to hit us (there’s Tojo again!). 

Actually, the Noble Peace Prize snub probably provides the best answer for the “Toddler-in-Chief.” In a letter to Norway’s Prime Minister, Trump wrote: “Considering that your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize… I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” 

Darn! Well, after the 2020 election loss, we all know he’s a sore loser. But the fake electors, January 6th, the crude attempt to get Mike Pence to ignore the constitution and all of the mischief caused by losing 60 court cases looks like a Girl Scout picnic compared to his overreaction to losing the Nobel Peace Prize! 

I guess, in the final analysis, the FIFA Peace Prize just wasn’t good enough to placate his bruised ego! Someone, please, give his wife the Oscar for Best Actress, otherwise L.A. will probably be next!

–Michael Graham, Sarasota 

Yes, Iranian leadership needed to be destroyed

I was on my way home to Phoenix when I picked up the Observer in the Sarasota airport and came across your editorial.

I 100% agree with your premise on Iran.

I am not a warmonger, but agree those in leadership who have caused unjustified attacks and live to cause mass destruction (which is embedded in their nature) need to be taken out.

There is no doubt Iran’s leadership has only one objective, and this will never change.

The Iranian people deserve and want something different.

The bottom line is for the world as a whole, regional interests included, the only solution is to take out Iran’s current leadership.

As a final note, no rational person could dispute that if Iran had an atomic weapon, it would be used right away and extensively. And, if allowed to happen, the whole Middle East would be wiped off the face of the earth, because, logically, Israel would respond in kind.

We have yet to deal with Russia/China — the backers of state-sponsored terrorism. I hope Ukraine can hang on and push Russia out.

–Steve Alderson, Chandler, Arizona