Politicians like to refer to their forces sent to foreign lands as "liberators"; the locals are much more likely to see them as invaders and occupiers. One of the worst aspects of this situation is the way in which the dedicated men and women in the armed forces have once again been betrayed by being sent to fight an unwinnable war. And once again they have been put in harm's way for unworthy purposes by mediocre politicians.

It's time to remind ourselves that Australia has "defence" forces, not "attack" forces, and that in future we should be much more reluctant to engage in military adventures.

Steve Ellis, Hackett

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash's comments about the Productivity Commission's recommendation on Sunday penalty rates ("Sunday rates should be reduced, says commission", December 22, p4 ) are confusing. She says "it has nothing to do with the government", that the Fair Work Commission sets penalty rates.

Why, then, did the Coalition government send the Productivity Commission a reference on it in the first place? And if it's not the government's business, why did she say the government would "take the recommendation to the next election to seek a mandate"?

R.S. Gilbert, Braddon

Malcolm Turnbull, Greg Hunt and Julie Bishop all went to the Paris climate talks and gave the impression they were singing from the same page as the rest of the world. They signed on to the objective of limiting global warming to "less then 2 degrees, and ideally 1.5 degrees".

Yet, within a fortnight of being home, Greg Hunt approves the Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin and the associated port at Abbot Point. The development of this mine will mean the world has no hope at all of achieving the 1.5-degree objective.

Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg has the nerve to claim that we can have coal and move to renewables, but not on this scale.

We can phase out existing coal mines over the next 15 years, but we simply cannot have any new ones. None, and especially not Carmichael. It is a travesty.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW

Eric Abetz's "welcome" for new ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie ("Stop the lefty love-in: ABC's new boss gets a conservative welcome", December 22, p4) continues the right's hatred of the ABC. These individuals do not reflect the opinions of a majority of ordinary Australians. It's only people like Rupert Murdoch who would like to see the ABC closed down.

The question now is will Michelle Guthrie be intimidated into commercialising the ABC? Already she's foreshadowed the possibility of introducing advertising and digital paywalls. If that happens, governments will further reduce ABC funding, forcing it towards complete commercialisation, where it will always be wary of offending its advertisers. I hope Labor declares its total opposition to this possibility.

Vince Patulny, Kambah

Whilst your guest editorial writer, the Reverend David Campbell of St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Forrest is a welcome contributor to the Christmas leader, I suspect he may have missed on opportunity by limiting his comments predominantly to fit around perhaps what might have originally been an Irish joke ("Let's have a useful, sensible and happy Christmas", December 24).

Whilst the examples of invitation (to church/carols), sensibility in what can became a 'silly season" and merriment, we need to be careful as a society that we do not limit these ideals to just one day of the year.

Just as the Magi sought the infant Jesus and brought the expensive gifts, we too can follow his example in living out the social gospel every day, giving other simple gifts. Today wise men still seek Jesus. They may not find him in the physical presence, however, the words and actions of his people each day can remain a living example of goodwill to all.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

I've been puzzled as to why the small girl in the government's NBN ads is wearing an old-time leather helmet and flying goggles, but I think I now understand why: Steampunk. For those unfamiliar with it, Steampunk is (to quote Wikipedia) "a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery". Which just about sums up the Coalition's version of the NBN.

Dallas Stow, O'Connor

R.S. Gilbert (Letters, December 21) thinks everyone wins when a golf club can develop surplus land and keep the proceeds, minus a change of use charge paid to the ACT government. But if the land is not needed for golf, why shouldn't government resume that part of the lease and sell the land?

What public interest is served by gifting any amount to a struggling golf club? It can't be to ensure the ACT public can get a game of golf. There are 10 golf clubs in Canberra, and only one has waiting times for playing memberships. Perhaps there is seen to be benefit in enabling a historic club and course to survive. If so, it would seem Canberra's vanished public schools did not survive long enough to benefit from such heritage status.

Further, why should any golf club occupy prime land on peppercorn lease terms? My wife and I belong to a capably run dance school that rents premises and employs teachers – it receives no government assistance and we pay fees.

Why privilege an activity that consumes large tracts of public land, and scarce water? What are the numbers of golfers, as against participants in other sports and pastimes, and what is so special about their demographic? How does this stack up against the forgone benefits from the sale or other public use of the land they occupy? Given the ACT government seems to be sourcing political willpower from the Greens, what do they think about these issues?

Paul Feldman, Macquarie

On November 29, I emailed Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson about two serious historical errors in the World War II galleries. I didn't expect a great deal of success, as approaches some years ago to two very senior members of the AWM to have the errors rectified had received very short shrift.

Disillusioned by its lack of commitment to ensuring historical accuracy, but encouraged by Lieutenant-General David Morrison's famous line – "the standard you walk by, is the standard you accept" – I decided the standard was definitely unacceptable and gave it one last shot. Most government servants, especially those holding senior positions, usually take days to even acknowledge a communication. However, within minutes I had a response to my email from Dr Nelson, with an undertaking to have the matters raised investigated. My faith in the director has been vindicated.

Less than three weeks later, the investigation was complete. The offending texts will be amended. As taxpayers, we often complain about the inability of government servants and agencies to act decisively, if at all. It seems that this is no longer the case at the AWM — at least, not while Brendan Nelson is in charge.

Lynette Silver , Wahroonga, NSW

Some would have us believe that the price of loyalty from our Muslim community is conditional on the self-censorship of our elected politicians, the media, our bureaucracy and the police. Indeed, it seems that unlike Catholics and Jews, the Islamic community is special and different.

Whereas Catholics must endure blasphemous depictions of a crucifix in a glass of urine in the name of art (Piss Christ), and Jews are routinely the target of misguided outrage that too often goes unanswered, criticism of Islam is apparently not acceptable. This is not to say that Muslims should be targeted for abuse as Christians and Jews are, but the suggestion that we cannot discuss the obvious link between extreme Islam and terrorism, that potentially affects us all, is an affront to both commonsense and a free society.

Are we saying that our Islamic community is so sensitive to criticism that it would side with extremists because a politician expressed a view it did not share? I would be alarmed if this was true but I am not so pessimistic or patronising, indeed, I think the Muslim community can handle a discussion about extreme Islam and is capable of defending its position where necessaryand we would all be better for it.

Malcolm Turnbull is tripping over himself to embrace the Muslim community, but he must remember that respect is a two-way street.

We should learn from the British experience in, for example, Rotherham, where authorities turned a blind eye to the sexual and physical abuse of more than 1400 young girls by Muslim Pakistani males in the name of maintaining social harmony and political correctness. Rather than solve the problems of Muslim extremism and the silent empathy of such activities by significant minorities, this misguided tolerance has made it infinitely worse. Europe is stumbling down the same track.

Rather than abrogate his leadership by encouraging the director-general of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to correct the thinking of certain unruly Parliamentarians and tone down their (unremarkable) language on extreme Islam, Prime Minister Turnbull should be leading the conversation by emphasising the importance of coexistence in a free society and our responsibility as citizens.

H.Ronald, Jerrabomberra, NSW

A CARTOON TOO FAR

I write to protest against David Pope's editorial cartoon in Times2 (December 22, p1).

I found it offensive, to say the least. In fact, it could border on blasphemy. Will David Pope also do the same with regard to Jewish and Muslim religious themes? I think not.

To David, I say: "Lift your sights, my friend".

Peter J. Adams, Watson

SURELY, PROGRESSIVE...

Regarding Steven Bailey's political aspirations ("Sex Party eyes balance of power in next territory election", December 23, p2), wouldn't Progressive Party be a more appropriate name than Sex Party?

John Milne, Chapman

The Australian Sex Party will probably win at least one seat in the 2016 Territory election, given that many adults feel that gay marriage should be a fundamental right of all people.

Steve Barrett, Glenbrook, NSW

NOT MUCH EMPATHY

In The Australian Financial Review's Friday Review lift-out of November 27, there is an article by Aaron Patrick headlined, "A guided tour to empathy". It's about paid tours to Israel for Australian journalists and politicians sponsored by the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council.

In it. there is a quote, a classic of abusers the world over: "Why are they making us kill them?" said Sarit Zehavi, an intelligence officer in the Army Reserve. "We don't want to kill them."

Kenneth Griffiths, O'Connor

DOUBLE MEANING

I can't resist. Gerry Murphy (Letters, December 21) says he was educated as a geologist and geophysicist. I study tautology. French cuisine and champagne, Gerry? Not a "double entendre" but a "piece de resistance" perhaps.

Tony Bruce, Gordon

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