Let us hope the consequences of Mr Trump’s premature announcement are not so immediate and regrettable.
Trump went to Singapore, met Kim Jong-un and managed to get the North Korean ruler to agree to much the same as the Clinton administration did some years ago.
Only time will tell whether Trump’s meeting with the North Korean Kim will outshine his meeting with the Kardashian Kim.
At least with Kardashian Kim one American was set free after a number of decades for a first offence.
This may inspire the imprisoned and economically deprived masses in North Korea, some of whom will have been waiting since 1948 for the sorts of freedoms Europe and Japan have enjoyed since 1945.
Is it too late to get some quotes on the Libyan option for North Korean regime change?
Could Australia offer the world and the Kim royal family, the peaceful transition option, of secure refuge and a peaceful retirement (with some of their ill-gotten wealth) on Australia’s Christmas or Norfolk Islands?
This could allow for a bloodless re-unification of the two Koreas.
Surely our recent record of humane treatment of refugees could not suffer by offering refuge to Kim.
Garry P Dalrymple, Earlwood, NSW

I can only surmise the reason behind all the ridicule of Donald Trump is because he is showing up the incompetence and ineptness of former US presidents of not getting America back on its feet again.
Reports say that employment, industry and the country’s economy are building up.
Also, whether North Korea abides by this agreement or not, the very fact that Trump has achieved something that has not happened since the Korean war must leave former US presidents feeling very impotent.
Unlike other presidents who either came from the military, legal or banking systems, Trump got where he is by being an astute tactical business man and is using this knowledge to run America.
Unlike here in Australia where we have plenty of politicians from the unions, legal and banking systems who run this country in support of those systems but not for the benefit of this country or its people.
N. W. H. Timms, Bungundarra, Qld

Trump will, of course, get his ‘‘deal’’ with Kim. China and Russia really, really want eight years of a Trump presidency.
Stewart Sweeney, Adelaide, S.A.

US President Donald Trump’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran with the intention of renegotiating a better deal isn’t an example of rogue behaviour, but responsible leadership (‘‘When two rogues meet’’, canberratimes.com.au, June 12).
The Iranian nuclear understandings of 2015 were fatally flawed and paved the way for Iran to eventually develop nuclear warheads and missile delivery systems regardless of whether they abided by the deal.
The fact that Kim Jong-un agreed to meet with Trump despite the latter’s actions vis-a-vis the Iran deal shows that, contrary to what critics have alleged, clear US resolve on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation will actually be met with respect for US seriousness and commitment.
Mark Kessel, Caulfield North, Vic

We write in support of P. R. Temple’s concerns regarding the proposed development of the Holt District Playing Fields (‘‘Attack on open space’’ Letters, June 7) including the danger of extending Kippax Fair on this valued green space, which also serves as a floodway.
Initially we welcomed the news in the 2018-19 ACT budget that the Higgins Neighbourhood Oval was to be restored ‘‘to make more sportsgrounds available for local sports groups in West Belconnen’’.
However, then we remembered that this is a quid pro quo recommended by the Barr government in its revised Kippax Draft Master Plan.
In 2016, after extensive community consultation, the Barr government’s original Kippax Draft Master Plan recommended expansion of Kippax Fair to the west of the centre to minimise social and environmental costs. Then the owners of the Kippax Fair and their consultants came up with an alternate development proposal to expand the centre, including the building of up to 50 units, to the east on a large section of the Holt District Playing Fields.
Next, the Barr government created a community panel favouring Kippax Fair’s alternate proposal and one that was always going to ignore its terms of reference to come up with several options to be put back to the local community.
So Kippax Fair’s alternate proposal was the only one put out for final comments earlier this year.
This proposal was described by the Belconnen Community Council in its submission as ‘‘a drastically rapacious land grab of open space, well after community consultation had concluded.’’
Glenys and Phil Byrne, Florey

I am surprised that Katy Gallagher has decided to run for the Senate again.
She has had a lengthy career in politics, including as a former ACT chief minister. I would have thought that with this experience, and the push to have more women in federal parliament, she would step aside and support the pre-selection of one of our talented young women from the Canberra Labor Party.
But then again perhaps the lure of being a senator is too strong.
If a senator achieves two terms he or she is entitled to a pension of at least $100,000 a year, indexed for life.
George Thompson, Narrabundah

A community meeting attended by over 100 people at Narrabundah on 31 May, heard that ACT Planning has received a scoping application and given a scoping document for a draft EIS to put Australia’s largest waste transfer terminal shed with an additional rail freight hub at Fyshwick some 264m from the future suburb of East Lake.
The second stage waste to energy incinerator was described as ‘‘ancillary’’.
This is developers’ speak for once the first stage is up then the second stage has clear passage.
A motion for ‘‘not at this site’’ was passed unanimously.
Chief Planner Ponton, why are you not listening to the community?
B. Moore, Kingston

Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Gough’s letter (‘‘Imagine walking in a soldier’s shoes, Letters, June12) was excellent, balanced and well researched.
I also find the electronic comments on this subject enlightening.
I worked as a Defence civilian for four years at the SASR Barracks, Swanbourne WA. As an ex-soldier with all that means regarding an appreciation of what war means, and a consequent hatred of that meaning, I found the majority of SASR soldiers with whom I came into contact to be sensible, thoughtful and emotionally balanced, at least at that time.
There were exceptions. One officer was a buffoon, not fit to serve in any uniform.
Some soldiers were also suspect. On one occasion, in the classroom under my care, I noticed a soldier reading a book, the cover of which featured a coloured photograph of John Winston Howard. Having a very low opinion of that politician, given his record of committing Australia to George W.Bush’s wars, I asked: ‘‘Why on earth would you want to read a book about that [expletive deleted]?’’
The response shocked me: ‘‘He’s a good bloke, he put $2000across the bar when he came here.’’
The responsibility for the dehumanising of some Australian soldiers, often but not necessarily arising from PTSD, must be borne by the politicians who send them in harm’s way.
This was done to SASR soldiers again and again by politicians who would never dream of putting themselves in any similar position.
The resultant human wrecks are then mistreated by the DVA, whose main aim seems to be to reject the legitimate claims of ex-service personnel.
Bottom line?
The politicians of our country must bear a very large percentage of the blame for any crimes committed. If one is to lay blame, lay it where it belongs.
Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky Road, NSW

As the child of a civil-war-torn country, I beg to differ with Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Gough’s position.
The Spanish civil war could have ended in three months with a relatively small number of casualties. But it lasted three years due to the intervention of foreign forces, mostly from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy on one side and revolutionary Russia on the other side.
That ‘‘help’’ resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of mostly innocent people, including children.
We are still unearthing bodies and recovering from the horrors.
Lt-Col Gough describes our soldiers as ‘‘among the best in the world’’.
The best to do what? He refers to the ‘‘evil of Taliban insurgents’’. The Taliban were put there by our ‘‘ally and protector’’, the US, as a proxy to fight against the, at the time, USSR’s supported Afghan army.
Lt-Col Gough asks: ‘‘Imagine a day walking in their shoes.’’
I ask him: Have you ever walked bare-footed in front of a heavily armed foreign soldier that has just invaded your village? I lost a few uncles and aunties that way.
I agree entirely with the sentiments expressed by Lt-Col Gough in his last paragraph. Our soldiers do not deserve to be sent to fight proxy wars, usually the product of another country’s ambitions of world domination. Let’s stop glorifying war.
John Rodriguez, Florey

I find disturbing comments such as those of Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Gough that attempt to justify and mitigate the recent reports of alleged abuses and possible war crimes perpetrated by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.
The main argument of these comments is that unless we have experienced the harsh and stressful conditions that these forces operate under, we should not condemn their actions.
We are also asked to consider the ‘‘disgustingly murderous’’ and barbaric behaviour of the enemy as a mitigating factor in our troops’ response.
I recently viewed a program about Senator John McCain, who was captured and tortured by the North Vietnamese during that ill-fated and tragic conflict.
He was criticised when he spoke out to condemn the CIA torture of detainees and prisoners in the wake of the September11 attacks. Although he did not try to hide his hatred for his North Vietnamese captors, McCain said the brutal CIA methods of interrogations ‘‘stained our national honour’’, and noted that ‘‘even our enemies possess basic human rights’’.
McCain further commented ‘‘that this question isn’t about our enemies, it’s about us. It’s about who we were, who we are, and who we aspire to be. Our enemies act without conscience. We must not.’’
I see a parallel with the reports of misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.
I do not believe we should condone any alleged breaches of the laws of war by Australian forces if they are substantiated, whatever the circumstances.
S.Whennan, Richardson

The outrage of the Ramsay Centre folks and their political supporters is impossible to take seriously.
A look online at the arts degree offerings at the ANU shows that, among many other options, ancient history, art history, contemporary Europe, French and German language and culture, philosophy, Australian politics, American studies, and anthropology are available.
This is a very partial list of the choices available to students wishing to learn more about ‘‘Western civilisation’’.
Two possible conclusions come to mind regarding this issue: either Abbott, Howard, Donnelly, et al are wilfully ignorant, or the true motive of the Ramsay Centre is to promote the supposed ‘‘superiority’’ of its narrow definition of ‘‘civilisation’’ over all others.
A confected ‘‘culture war’’ is being waged by only one side, and the ANU deserves the highest praise for maintaining its integrity.
Steve Ellis, Hackett

If you had to choose between ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt’s version of events and values and those of Tony Abbott, John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, who would you trust to promote true ‘‘Western’’ values?
I rest my case.
John Mellors, Coombs

Nuclear weapons threaten us all. Disarming one nuclear-weapons state does not reduce the threat, as other states are refining and expanding their stocks of nuclear weapons.
The nuclear weapons ban treaty adopted by a large majority in the United Nations General Assembly last year is a sign that most nations do not want to continue this absurdly dangerous race.
Australia should show its commitment to world peace by signing the treaty and persuading the nuclear weapons powers to disarm.
David Purnell, Florey

In hours and hours of coverage of mainly parked cars, Trump meets Kim Jong-un. Reality TV meets international diplomacy. Which is the real world?
Roy Bray, Flynn

Peace on the Korean Peninsula at last? Does that mean that the remains of the 43 Australian MIAs from the Korean War, which ended 65 years ago on July 27, 1953 when a truce came into effect, will be repatriated and their families will be able to pay homage to their long lost, but not forgotten brethren?
May they Rest In Peace and their sacrifices be forever remembered.
Graeme W Brewer, Biggera Waters, Qld

Of all the reports on the Kim/Trump meeting, I feel the one by reporter William Shakespeare will be found to be most prescient. He said: ‘‘It is a tale told by an idiot (two actually), full of sound and fury and signifying nothing’’.
David Goss, Woonoona, NSW

As long as peace prevails, who cares if world diplomacy is rewritten by a tin pot dictator and a real estate developer.
John Sandilands, St Marys, Tasmania

The world watched in silence when North Korea’s evil despot and the ‘‘free’’ world’s boastful pussy-snatcher shook grubby hands in Singapore. What can we hope for when we fail to produce decent leaders we can admire and respect? I’m anxious.
Don Burns, Mawson

Trump and Kim Jong-un sign a historic agreement improving the chances of peace on the Korean peninsula.
There’s only one thing to say really. F--- em De Niro.
A. Pavelic, Queanbeyan, NSW

After months of insults rocket man and dotard are pals. A pity Donald about Canada, Germany etc, but who cares, as they were such great photos in Singapore weren’t they.
John Davenport, Farrer