Letters: Donald Trump’s rash war demands we protest

Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor Trump s rash war demands we protest Re U S bombs Iran nuke sites Page A June It didn t take long before Donald Trump got us into another chaotic mess this time in the Middle East by the U S striking Iran On Friday Trump stated that he would make a decision about bombing Iran within two weeks One day later the United States bombed Iran How countless more American lives will be lost this time His advisors are inexperienced sycophants The Republicans in Congress are useless and the conservative Supreme Court majority grants his wishes We the People must continue to oppose this dictator in every viable legal and peaceful way that we can if we are to live in a democracy God help us Ramona Krausnick Dublin Congress must not write blank war check Re Alarm grows after U S joins fighting Page A June War-making power was vested in Congress to prevent exactly what we have endured since an imperial presidency that launches wars first and asks permission later From Harry Truman s police action in Korea to Bill Clinton s air war over Kosovo seven wars Korea Vietnam Dominican Republic Grenada Panama the Gulf and Kosovo were fought without a formal declaration Now Donald Trump has done it again Congress tried and has abjectly failed to claw back authority with the War Powers Resolution as every president since has sidestepped its -day limit citing vague authorizations or humanitarian urgency This deeply dangerous pattern erodes constitutional checks dulls debate leaves our troops in harm s way and erodes our image in the world on the whim of one person Our legislators must repeal blank check authorizations for use of military force insisting on explicit votes before the next shot is fired Tom Debley Walnut Creek National Guard has bad history policing protests Re Trump can control troops in L A for now Page A June Let us not forget that on May the killing of four Kent State students and the wounding of nine others occurred while they were protesting the Vietnam War We should not have sent the National Guard to that protest any more than we sent them to Los Angeles to protest the actions of ICE The National Guard should not be involved in these situations Ronald Banks Brentwood Workers behind scenes make the courts hum Re Trump can control troops in L A for now Page A June Your story about the U S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit s decision reversing San Francisco-based U S District Judge Charles Breyer s decision that ordered the immediate return of control over California s National Guard to Gov Newsom reminds me that these matters of urgency require accelerated briefing and hearings The unseen and largely unsung heroes in this process are the staff of law clerks and other court personnel who have to work overtime sometimes pulling consecutive all-nighters to see that the judges are ably prepared to carry out their duties To that bulwark of hard-working civil servants I say thank you Kristian Whitten Kensington Front-page story is deaf to gravity of times Re Couple makes decision that they can live with Page A June There is war in the Middle East a severe heat wave in much of America ICE agents are detaining harmless immigrants homeless numbers are increasing and amazing Juneteenth celebrations have been held A lot is going on But what do I get as a front-page story in my Monday East Bay Times A story of a well-to-do couple who regularly go for weekend ski trips and have a budget of million to buy a home He works for a wine company she works in the clean capacity industry They enjoy wine Wednesdays with friends Life is good for these folks essentially perfect The home they seek must be near trails and it must have a big backyard for their -pound mixed-breed dog It must not be far from great food and values You can t make this stuff up folks and even if you could why would you want to George Fulmore Emeryville On holiday give animals their independence As we celebrate the Fourth of July with friends flags and freedom let s take a moment to consider those denied even the the bulk basic liberties not just people but animals Whether hunted trapped caged in zoos confined in labs or raised and killed for their fur skin feathers or flesh animals have no freedom Related Articles Letters Congress must reclaim its constitutional power to declare war Letters Trump s attack on Iran makes Mideast less safe Letters Power to declare war rests with Congress alone Letters California must expand reproductive care in ERs Letters As California heats up CEQA should be used more Farmed animals in particular endure unimaginable suffering Billions live confined never knowing autonomy dignity or gratification Chickens can t spread their wings pigs can t root in the soil and cows never feel the sun They re bred for exploitation mutilated caged and slaughtered without choice or mercy If we truly value freedom shouldn t it extend beyond our own species Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one powerful way to live out those values On this Independence Day let s widen our circle of compassion because liberation shouldn t stop with humans If the roles were reversed wouldn t we want the same Harold Kunitz Walnut Creek