The statement that President Trump has “apologised” for (“Trump praises UK troops in climbdown after Nato slur”, Jan 25) deserves to be measured against historical record. The US definitely bore the largest burden of the war in Afghanistan, with 2,461 fatalities and more than 20,000 wounded — an undeniable sacrifice. But casualty totals alone do not determine who saw frontline combat. British forces conducted sustained operations in Helmand province, losing 457 service members. Canada lost 159 personnel, many during intense fighting in Kandahar. Denmark recorded one of the highest fatality rates among major Nato contributors. These were not rear-echelon assignments; they were among the conflict’s most dangerous sectors.
Measured against national population, the US and Denmark both suffered about 7.4 deaths per million citizens. The UK’s was only slightly lower. Recognising the scale of Allied losses does not diminish America’s role. It simply acknowledges that many Nato members did not stay “a little back”. They fought alongside US forces — and paid a substantial price.
Dr Thomas Reed
Broughton, Hants
Had Sir Keir Starmer responded to the offensive comments made by President Trump about British armed forces by saying “it’s not quite fair” and that he would “politely object”, he would have been criticised for his insipid reaction. Instead those words were uttered by Nigel Farage, who aspires to be prime minister, a role that involves sending British forces into harm’s way. Farage has described draft-avoiding Trump as the “bravest” person he’s ever met. This subservience to an increasingly erratic president should disqualify Farage from leading this country.
Warren Morgan
Brighton
My son, Marine Sam Alexander, was awarded the Military Cross for charging at the Taliban armed only with a pistol to save the life of an injured colleague. How much closer to the front line could he have been? Sam was killed by an IED when on patrol in Helmand province on his subsequent tour. My heart is with all bereaved military families.
Serena Alexander
London W6
Matthew Syed struggles to call President Trump an “autocrat” (“‘Who cares about truth any more?’ The chilling words I heard in Florida”, Jan 25). I would suggest another a-word: “amoral”. Trump is a man for whom right and wrong are not considerations in life.
Diane Reddish
Hampton Wick, Middx
While agreeing with Matthew Syed about the “monstrous unseriousness of Europe”, surely there is a case for the cancellation of the King’s visit to America and for taking a robust posture against President Trump. This would save the unjustified cost of the King’s visit while acknowledging the ineffectiveness of so-called soft power.
Angela Wall
Whitby, N Yorks
Matthew Syed rightly sounds the alarm about the “shiver running down the spine of the free world” after Donald Trump added yet another insult to the values of decency and humanity. While it was perhaps initially understandable for western politicians to humour Trump in the interest of cordial relations, surely the time has now come to call out every outrage before it is too late.
Richard Rigby
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Tory party’s centre
Although there is a case for a new movement to bolster the centre-right of the Conservative Party (“Leading Tories start centrist movement to ‘save the party’”, Jan 25), I would suggest something more radical. It is clear the Labour government has neither the will nor the power, hampered as it is by warring factions, to invest in defence or seek closer ties with European allies.
The Conservatives, having been deserted by figures on their right wing, are now not that distant from Sir Keir Starmer’s world view. Perhaps a national government led by Kemi Badenoch — with Starmer as foreign secretary, Rishi Sunak as chancellor, Shabana Mahmood as home secretary, Wes Streeting as health secretary and John Healey as defence secretary — would have a lot to recommend it. But how do we get there?
John Bevan
Liss, Hants
It is ironic that Sir Andy Street and Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links are forming a centrist faction within the Conservative Party. A large number of One Nation Tories were expelled from the party under Boris Johnson’s tenure. Readmitting them would convince other centrists that the party is serious.
Dr Raj Menon
Bramhope, W Yorks
Offside abolition
Field hockey had the same offside rule as football for decades, but the International Hockey Federation began experimenting with changes to the law in 1972, culminating in its abolishment in 1998. This change benefited players, spectators and umpires. As Stephen Halliday suggests (letter, Jan 25), football should do the same and ditch offside.
John Stokes
Southampton
‘Nepo baby’ nightmare
Hadley Freeman is right about the perils of raising a “nepo baby” (“The Beckhams hand a lesson to every parent”, Jan 25). The actress Kate Winslet says both her children have “carved their own paths” in Hollywood. Only with a hefty push from Mummy.
Kevin Smith
Langthwaite, N Yorks
Tatty language
I was pleased to find a fellow linguistic pedant in Peter Marrington (letter, Jan 25). I bristled again at my two pet hates in Scottish contemporary language. First, there is no “a” in “definitely”. Second, the disappearing “t’s” as in Sco-ish, twenny, poe’ry and ta-y scones.
David Mitchell
Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
Chagos challenge
The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is certainly apt regarding your splendid aerial shot of the Chagos Islands (news, Jan 25). The islands’ average height above sea level is 1.2m (4ft). As sea levels rise, surely it is folly to pay a 99-year lease for land that will soon disappear.
Peter Smaill
Borthwick, Midlothian
Logical police reforms
Robert Colvile rightly highlights the risks inherent in major police reorganisation (“Mahmood’s police reforms may sound logical. They’re almost certainly doomed”, Jan 25). But difficult reform is not the same as unnecessary reform, and structural change is becoming increasingly hard to avoid. Having worked in law enforcement in the UK and, more recently, in the US, I have seen how serious crime can be handled by strong statewide and federal agencies that support, rather than replace, local policing.
Community legitimacy is preserved by keeping neighbourhood policing close to the public, while specialist capability is scaled nationally. That distinction matters. Falling public confidence and victim satisfaction suggests that UK policing requires reform to meet modern threats and to rebuild trust. Any such reform must be evidence-led and properly consulted on. But dismissing it as “kamikaze” before it has been properly debated, as Colvile does, risks entrenching a status quo that is already failing too many communities.
Stephen Lee
Detective superintendent (ret’d), Greater Manchester police
Chickening out
Daniel Woolfson’s account of judging the Fried Chicken Championships (“Fried chicken is a £2bn craze. I spent a day at the top table”, business, Jan 25) brought to mind a recent experience. Intrigued by advertising for a new chicken shop in west London, I tentatively stepped inside — to be confronted by a huge digital display of meal combinations. A young staff member, observing (in their eyes) an elderly gent perhaps confused and digitally illiterate, offered to help. Startled, but knowing I should make a healthy choice, I asked if they served grilled chicken. Her bemused expression when she explained that I was in a “fried chicken” shop said it all. I quickly left.
Dr John Blackmore
London W5
Quest for longer life
I found James Watt’s desire to cheat old age fascinating (“Oxygen chambers and an Oura wedding ring can’t quench Mr BrewDog’s thirst for a longer life”, Jan 25). I’ve no idea whether the £1 million he has spent on gadgets and therapies will do the trick but, at nearly 95 myself and having lived a full life, I can only wish him the best of luck. Maybe enhanced medical knowledge will permit him to accomplish his quest. Personally, I’m happy to enjoy the good fortune of growing old reasonably comfortably, which I put down mostly to my genes.
Clive Jacobs
Aldenham, Herts
Deep impact
My vote for the most annoying word (letters, Jan 4–25) is “impact”. Everything now has an “impact” or, worse still, is “impacted”. In my book the only time to use the word “impact” is when an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. If this does happen, however, I may not care so much about the correct usage.
David Jones
Barrington, Cambs
Way with words
Dominic Lawson is the first columnist I read but last week he left me feeling like Prince George in Blackadder when he met the lexicographer Samuel Johnson: totally confused. Lawson’s use of “tergiversator” had me scrambling for my own dictionary after it left me, in the words of Blackadder in his quest to antagonise Johnson with made-up words, in a state of “pericombobulation”.
David Salter
Cardiff
Hospital scandal
While the SNP tries to avoid blame for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal (“Hospital not yet proven safe, says whistleblower”, Jan 25) there are other cracks it cannot paper over. Long A&E waiting times, ambulance delays and corridor care remain a problem. The SNP waiting time “guarantee” is worthless. How many more deaths can be pinned on poor stewardship of the NHS in Scotland?
Dr Gerald Edwards
Glasgow
Hard to digest
In your leading article on edible spoons (“Spoonfed”, Jan 25) you mention Monsieur Mangetout, the entertainer who ate two bicycles, an aircraft, beds and skis. One has to wonder how much garlic he used to enhance the flavour.
David Francis Seelig
Claygate, Surrey
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