To the editor: Once upon a time, in 1968, a presidential candidate, Richard Nixon, claimed to have a “secret plan” to end a war, this one in Vietnam. But the war continued and even extended for several years after his election. (“Trump and Zelensky meet after Trump disparages US support for Ukraine against Russia invasion,” September 27)
Now, Donald Trump invites us to believe that he will bring a quick solution to the war in Ukraine if he is elected president again.
Trump could easily make things worse. He could try to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin most of what he wants, threaten Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with concessions and begin leaving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
This won't end well if we give it the chance.
Scott Thacher, San Diego
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To the editor: Zelensky's imploring world leaders for help reminds us of Ukraine's exemption from conscription for young men under 25. If Ukraine does not tap its immense reserve of young men of fighting age, we find it difficult to sympathize with its cause.
As much as we support extending Ukraine's missile range toward Russia, perhaps that support should depend on Ukraine dramatically lowering its draft age for its truly existential fight.
J. Felipe Barnes, San Pedro
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To the editor: Trump promises that if he wins the presidency, he will quickly negotiate peace in our time, paraphrasing the tragically ironic words of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938.
But, as Chamberlain realized less than a year later, Hitler had no intention of honoring that agreement. Nor did North Vietnam have any intention of honoring the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. Nor did the Taliban for the agreement that Trump himself negotiated in 2020.
We should not expect Putin to be any different.
Steve Mills, Glendale
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To the editor: Due to the dangerous state of the world, The Times devotes an enormous number of columns to the situation in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iran, Ukraine, Korea and Taiwan.
Surprisingly, the presidential campaign so far has been devoted almost exclusively to domestic issues. Trump is credited with at least one offhand comment to the effect that he would be willing, if not downright eager, to leave Ukraine in the lurch, and Vice President Kamala Harris has not shown that she has given much thought to foreign policy issues.
Since both candidates aspire to be commander in chief of the US military, the press should not let them get away with this. The media (including The Times) is failing in its responsibility to the American people.
Dana Sutton, Corona
