Letters to The Editor — March 5, 2026

A war beyond borders

Just a few days of strikes on Iran have already shown serious global consequences. From the loss of scores of lives in Iran, Lebanon and Israel, to flights being cancelled putting livelihoods in jeopardy and an energy crisis looming large with Saudi Arabia and Iraq suspending their oil operations, there is much trouble ahead. That India has crude oil stocks to last for 25 days is also a double-edged sword. The irony is striking: U.S. President Donald Trump, who mediated failed Russia-Ukraine talks, is now caught in a ‘prolonged’ war. The inability of the United Nations to stop conflicts or hold nations accountable stems from its reliance on member funding and lack of enforcement authority. If those in the Global South, Africa and Europe stand united against American ‘imperialism’, the U.S.’s sanctions, tariffs and bellicose posture cannot stand in the way of diplomacy for a just world.

Prabhu Raj R.,

Bengaluru

U.S. President Donald Trump is fighting a war against Iran with a cowboy mindset and misplaced bravado without realising the tragic consequences of war. He is basically an anarchist and an outlaw who cares little for international laws or the authority of global bodies such as the United Nations. He is fighting an illegal war without mandatory Congress approval. He is safe in the distant United States but his allies in West Asia suffer the consequences with missile attacks from Iran. The economies of many countries will be hit hard by soaring oil prices. In his mistaken thinking, bombing is his obtuse solution to all problems.

Perhaps this absurd war is being staged, as some observers say, to shield himself from the devastating exposure of the Epstein Files.

Matthew Adukanil,

Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu