Sir, – The US president is acting like the bully-boy boss of a banana republic by ordering US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to note down the names of those countries that dare to vote against him on the UN resolution that condemns US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (“US to ‘take names’ of those who vote against Jerusalem recognition”, World News, December 20th).
In fact, the only thing that stops his intimidatory behaviour being just like that of a tinpot dictator is that it is being done on the global stage.
Unfortunately for the international community, however, Donald Trump, as well as being a natural born bully, is also currently the leader of the “free world” and in control of the most powerful country and military on earth. – Yours, etc,
JOE McCARTHY,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – "The US ambassador to the UN Nikki Halley wrote to her fellow UN ambassadors including Ireland warning them: 'As you consider your vote, I encourage you to know the president and the US take this vote personally. The president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those who voted against us" she said." ("Government declines to say how it will vote on US Jerusalem move", December 21st).
Allow me, for one, to publicly reject this dictation and attempted intimidation. I hope the current Government will be wise enough to remember that the appeasement of bullies, either in schoolyards or international affairs, does not have a sanguine history.
Hopefully Brussels, and particularly Chancellor Merkel, will communicate a little history reminder to Washington.
Aside from anything else, to comply with this dictation further elevates the status of Moscow across the planet.
While I do not share the zeal of the current Russophobic bear-baiters, I also prefer to see Europe fill the gap being abandoned by the US. – Yours, etc,
DAMIEN FLINTER,
Headford,
Co Galway.
Sir, – How dare the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, threaten any country of the UN general assembly that dares vote against her president’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel. (World News, December 21st).
The UN assembly must stand up to the bully-boy tactics of Donald Trump; he may get away with these threats in the US, but he should be taught a lesson in respect by the sovereign states assembled at the UN. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – So President Trump wants a list of the UN votes. Is he writing his own naughty or nice list and deciding who gets coal? – Yours, etc,
DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Melbourne,
Australia.