Nato's blame game
Re: "Blinken set for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang in Laos", (World, July 28).
So, according to Nato members, Beijing is somehow a "key facilitator" of Russia's war in Ukraine. This is nonsense.
The war was "facilitated" by the USA and its insistence on Ukraine becoming a Nato member when they were well aware that this would be perceived in Moscow as an unacceptable threat to Russian national security. Much as Russian missiles in Cuba were perceived by the US.
China has nothing at all to do with this.
The West never misses an opportunity to blame China for something or another, but with this, they are clutching at straws.
Jumbo habitat loss
Re: "Thai wild elephants to undergo new 'behaviour modification' training", (BP, July 28).
The term "behaviour modification training" for these unfortunate elephants whose only crime is being displaced by the destruction of their natural environment is akin to "attitude adjustment" that was promoted for unruly human counterparts in some perceptions not so long ago.
These recalcitrants, too, had issues with living conditions.
Hyperbole hurts
Re: "Things to not forget", (PostBag, July 28) & "Why Bua Noi needs a sanctuary", (Opinion, July 17).
Bua Noi's confinement is horrific enough without Rose Bellini exaggerating it, for in so doing, she is not promoting the cause of a rethink of this unfortunate animal's imprisonment.
The reason is simple. By using hyperbole, Rose allows Bua Noi's owners to rightfully dismiss her letters as incorrect.
Clueless protesters
Re: "Not voting for Harris", (PostBag, July 28) & "Harris holds talks with Bibi", (World, July 27).
I've already stated my opinion on the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Both sides are wrong and need to be forced back to the negotiating table, but listening to Eric Bahrt's crowing on the subject is tiresome.
Kamala Harris is right to condemn the vandalistic young Americans pretending to be pro-Hamas since they're too young to remember 9/11 and have no idea that they're supporting a terrorist group whose stated aim is destroying Israel. These protesters are much like the people of Gaza -- they are being cynically exploited by Hamas.
Having said that, Harris has repeatedly stated that Israel should stop its military actions and, as president, would probably do something about it. I doubt whether anyone cares whether Bahrt votes for her or not, and I don't know why he seems to think we should care.
Expats in the cold
Re: "Expats not critical", (PostBag, July 27) & "Expat tax fallout", (PostBag, July 20).
Anyone in his right mind would choose inward funds from 40 million tourists over funds from long-stay expats as Songdej Praditsmanont, a typical macroeconomist, does. However, it's beyond anyone why Thailand doesn't choose to have the cake and eat it, too, by attending to the long-neglected needs of these long-stay expats (with or without their extended families).
They, too, contribute economically, admittedly on a smaller (microeconomic) scale (to rural areas where tourists will hardly ever go). Another example is the recent overhaul of the visa policy, leaving out long-stay expats with Thai spouses. One can imagine they feel unwanted, second-rate residents who do not have any rights.
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