US mission in Venezuela is just an illegal oil grab

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was kidnapped, not arrested, and his guards were murdered. Nothing to be proud of here (“How cocaine and corruption led to Maduro’s indictment, according to US”, January 5). The Venezuelans who were televised waving flags and celebrating the Trump takeover should be careful of what they wish for. This is not a friendly takeover; it’s a brutal corporate grab for oil. No will of the people, freedom or justice involved here. US President Donald Trump intends to anoint his own brutal dictator to ensure that the people of Venezuela behave themselves and don’t mess with American profits. Watch out Greenland, Colombia, Panama, Canada, the world: we’re entering the era of greedy corporate colonialism and of demented billionaires tearing apart the fabric of our society to maximise profits and eliminate their enemies. Geoffrey Dyer, Bundanoon

Where is Australia’s outrage? When Russia invaded Ukraine, our government rightly condemned it as a flagrant violation of international law and sovereignty. Sanctions were imposed. Strong words were spoken. We stood on principle. Yet when the United States bombs Venezuela, captures its sitting president and announces it will “run the country” and seize its oil, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offers only a tepid call for “dialogue and diplomacy”. International law experts have already declared this a crime of aggression under the UN Charter – the same charter we invoked against Vladimir Putin. But apparently, sovereignty matters only when our allies aren’t the ones violating it. Either we believe in a rules-based international order or we don’t. We cannot credibly lecture Russia, China or anyone else about respecting sovereignty while looking the other way when the US does the same thing. This isn’t diplomacy, it’s hypocrisy. Raj Kamath, Castle Hill

Sorry, please explain how Trump invading Venezuela is any different to Putin’s annexation of parts of Ukraine. The spurious arguments about stopping the shipments of drugs, a corrupt government, the seizure of oil tankers and a declaration that Venezuelan oil is now “mine”, are far worse. And they set a dangerous precedent for an invasion of any other country Trump does not like ... or wants (hello Greenland). Where is the global outrage? Where is the coalition of the willing to meet this egregious breach of international law? When will countries realise that no matter how big the bully in the sandpit, a united front will have him ousted and running for cover? Susan Tomlin, Eleebana

Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson writes that because Maduro didn’t opt out of the International Criminal Court he might have a legal case against Trump (“This is a warning to all world leaders who antagonise Trump”, January 5). Even if this is true, Trump would take no notice. As his capture of the Venezuelan president demonstrates, he has no respect for any law. Australia is still entangled with the US hoping that somehow the Democrats can make a comeback. One thing is clear: Trump will not go quietly now that he has control of the courts, the Congress and the army. We ignore his hunger for power at our peril. Our voting system protects our democracy, but our politics are definitely not bulletproof. Many think it was Peter Dutton’s similarity to Trump that turned the electorate against him. But while Sussan Ley tries to drag the Coalition back to the centre, the hard right of the party thinks they can make Trump-style politics work here. Could they be right? Gary Barnes, Mosman

Trump pardoned ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was in a US prison for drug trafficking, so it’s pretty clear he is not really worried about the scourge of illegal drugs. We aren’t even being told credible lies to justify the illegal invasion of Venezuela to steal its oil. It’s the Iraq invasion all over again (“This could be Trump’s Iraq”, January 5). Graeme Finn, Campsie

It’s interesting to read the portrayal of Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores as some sort of despot (“Cilia Flores, the woman behind Nicolás Maduro”, January 5). She has completely politicised the judicial system. She has “embedded state institutions with relatives and loyalists”. She has accumulated vast wealth. She has established “business links with sanctioned foreign businesspeople”. Sounds awfully familiar. Charles Hargrave, Elizabeth Bay

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on December 10.

Your editorial lists the various sets of rules we humans have devised over the years to try to get us to live peacefully together: the US Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, and the Monroe Doctrine, all of which Trump apparently sees no necessity to adhere to (“Trump’s attack on Venezuela is a dangerous and illegal gambit”, January 5). What about the Ten Commandments, then? Or even common decency? Well no, as your cartoonist, Megan Herbert, points out so deliciously. Pen Layton-Caisley, Marrickville

Safety first

Thank you, John Wallace, for your insights into the royal commission versus special inquiry debate (“Royal commissions are often used to buy time, not create change”, January 5). Three weeks after the Bondi horror, we still see differences of opinion between what political leaders and many “ordinary” citizens think, or rather demand, should be done. We should be clear that the aims of a royal commission and a rapid inquiry are very different, but not mutually exclusive. The government inquiry wants to quickly examine what failed and fix it – an immediate response to improving the community’s safety. The calls for a royal commission are framed around why one group was targeted in this heinous way, not in making the general community safer. Royal commissions are expansive and all-questioning: any royal commission prompted by Bondi should examine all causes of hatred, disunity and enmity in our society, not seek to divide or limit recommendations to just one group, which would be ineffective and potentially more divisive. But a royal commission that takes years to run is not going to make anyone feel safer in the short term; that is what the special inquiry will try to do. Dale Bailey, St Leonards

Anthony Albanese attends the Bondi Pavilion the day after the mass shooting.

All those demanding a royal commission into the Bondi attack should read John Wallace’s article on studies of national and international royal commissions. It found they are “not inherently better at uncovering truth or delivering reform than other forms of inquiry” and “do not reliably deliver implementation”, while being “slow and expensive”. Any information from ASIO or other intelligence institutions would be redacted on national security grounds and their own internal investigation will have already been concluded and actions implemented. Social cohesion would also be at risk. Tellingly, they were found to be used politically to “buy time, not change”. With one state royal commission already proposed, calls for a federal one are driven understandably by outrage and emotion from the public, but also, cynical politicking by the opposition. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Where was George Brandis’ call for a royal commission into Islamophobia, which has been rampant since 9/11 (“By refusing a royal commission, what is the ALP covering up?”, January 5)? What about one for Australians of Chinese background who have put up with sinophobia at least twice during the past decade, especially during the pandemic, but in reality for decades. By all means call for a royal commission into bigotry and racism in this country, but make it broad enough to shine light on the real issue. A royal commission into antisemitism, with its narrow focus, will achieve nothing and only serve to unleash more hatred. Trevor La Macchia, Eastwood

I would have been more impressed with the views of sports people if they had shown similar concern when the ball was in their own court, pun intended (“Crossbench demands commission as sporting greats blast inaction”, January 5). Where was their voice when former AFL star Adam Goodes was being victimised over his skin colour? The Richardson inquiry is rightly focused on the recent outrage that was bred by antisemitic hatred. A royal commission should be called only when we have the courage to tackle the real problem – hatred of others who are not identical to us. This would include antisemitism, Islamophobia and other religious and ethnic hatreds, the unstated but powerful censorship of any voiced support for even humanitarian aid to Gaza and, of course, must begin with, dare I say it, the British seizing of the sovereignty of the Indigenous people of this
continent. Let’s be brave and let’s be honest. Call a meaningful royal commission. Judith Wheeldon, Roseville Chase

Whether one agrees with the need for a royal commission or not, there is ample evidence that the collection of well-known people from sport, business, and industry are being co-ordinated by political interests that support the Liberal Party (“More calls for Bondi attack royal commission”, January 5). This makes it imperative for the media to provide balanced reporting on this issue rather than the selective coverage that has focused on certain aspects of the Bondi tragedy and its aftermath at the expense of other significant details. Adam Cooper, Wanniassa (ACT)

Perhaps instead of bowing to pressure from the crossbench and sporting greats, the federal government should set up a royal commission into racism in all forms, given that it affects so many groups in Australia, many of them marginalised. And in the process, they could call out the opposition who, to my mind, generated and condoned a lot of the current wave of racist attitudes and behaviour with their stance on the Voice referendum, as well as One Nation supporters, who feel empowered by the behaviour of Pauline Hanson, particularly her wearing of a burka in Parliament. Sue Armstrong, Newcastle

Independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe expresses what everyone understands: that the Jewish community would want every possible action to tackle antisemitism, including a royal commission. But she also recognises that it’s not just antisemitism but right-wing activism generally that needs to be investigated. Consequently, the pile-on by the right-leaning Coalition and its supporters that has led to calls for a commission, rather than the current investigation into intelligence failures that are at the heart of the problem, is exposed as purely opportunistic. The Coalition must be jumping for joy that it’s been able to move the spotlight off its recent dysfunction. Brenton White, Mosman

Senator Lidia Thorpe supports the idea of a royal commission.

When it comes to royal commissions, or most political issues for that matter, we don’t need to be lectured to by sports figures, especially Dawn Fraser, who in 2015 told Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic to go back to where their parents came from. Now more than ever she needs to stay in her lane. Fabio Scalia, Balaclava (Vic)

Many “eminent” Australians are calling for a royal commission into antisemitism. I wonder how many of them are members of the many “exclusive” clubs that, until not that long ago, would not allow Jews to join. Victoria Heffernan, Walcha

At this stage of our history, I would rather have a royal commission into housing in Australia. Barbara Lumley, Summer Hill

Energy rip-off

Energy expert Ted Woodley exposes some questionable business practices in the energy industry (“The ruse that allows energy retailers to filch millions”, January 5). High prices are hurting manufacturers and private consumers alike. My last Energy Australia invoice from April to July was 49 per cent higher than in the same period 2024, despite a reduction in usage of 14 per cent. Energy Australia MD Mark Collette said in a speech in 2024 that “customers expect prices to move something in the range of flat to inflation levels, and when this does not happen they are unhappy. Customers expect when they reduce usage that their bills go down and feel trapped when this does not happen.” I wrote to Mr Collette four weeks ago – so far no answer why such an increase is justified. Dierk Mohr, South Turramurra

Like Ted Woodley, I’m tired of energy retailers taking customers for an unethical ride. Increasing numbers of Australians who can manage the upfront cost have already embraced the obvious solution: investing in rooftop solar paired with a home battery. There is real satisfaction in sidestepping retail energy ruses, avoiding energy price hikes and staying resilient during blackouts by generating clean electricity at home. Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic)

Stand up for politeness

Phil Rodwell notes a lack of courtesy among the young on public transport (Letters, January 5), but I have not found this to be the case. I am 80, my wife is 79 and we often use the light rail when visiting Sydney. On several occasions, we have been offered a seat by young people, often of Asian or Middle Eastern backgrounds. Given the current discussion of “Australian values”, it would appear many of our younger generation have adopted them, regardless of their cultural heritage. Geoff Kervin, Shellharbour

Beach safety heads-up

With the unfortunate number of drownings this holiday season, some involving overseas visitors, perhaps it would be a good idea if the airlines showed a short video on beach safety prior to landing (“People are drowning because beach flags are too hard to understand”, January 3). Lynda Cronshaw, Narrabeen

Lifeguards have been kept busy this holiday season.

50 years, still mixing

How fortuitous that on my 50th wedding anniversary, I read an article about how appliances used to last for decades (“Why your parents’ appliances lasted decades – and yours don’t”, January 5). My parents gave us a Sunbeam Mixmaster as our wedding gift and it has been in constant use ever since. These days, our grandchildren especially enjoy the chocolate cakes and pavlovas it produces. Its colour is “harvest gold” – most prophetic indeed! Cath Hunting, MacMasters Beach

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