Letters to The Editor — March 27, 2026

The war in West Asia

The awful truth that the war on Iran has been a serious and costly miscalculation must have dawned on U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by now. The two leaders have bitten off more than they could chew. As warmongers, they have substituted fools and rushed in where angels would have feared to tread. Mr. Trump claims that talks for a deal are underway with the ‘right people’ and adds that Iran is afraid to admit to talks openly. But Tehran rebuts his claim that it is begging him for a deal as totally untrue and vows to retaliate. A peace plan is said to be brokered by Pakistan.

Compounding the confusion amidst the reports of ‘indirect talks’ for a resolution to the conflict taking place is Pentagon’s claim that thousands of U.S. Marines are heading to West Asia. The entire mass of humanity suffers for the folly of the two thick-skulled war-mongering leaders. The war must be a salutary lesson for war-prone leaders that it is easy to light a match, but difficult to douse the fire. An inadequately stated fact is that most Americans are against the war and Iranians suffer the war through no fault of their own. Broadly speaking, the repudiation of the principle that ‘might is right’ and the conduct of international affairs based on justice are a sine qua non for enduring world peace.

G. David Milton,

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Before the conflict escalates further, efforts must be made to bring it to an end. This may be an opportune moment for the United Nations to intervene and work towards an amicable resolution acceptable to all parties.

India, too, could play a constructive role in encouraging de-escalation. United States President Donald Trump cannot be trusted. His statements need not be taken seriously as he contravenes his own statements every other day. It is to be hoped that this prolonged conflict will come to an end soon.

Parthasarathy N.,

Chennai

This war increasingly appears driven by political impulses rather than a coherent long-term strategy. The destruction caused by the bombardment of Iran cannot be undone. Even now, the conflict could be brought to an end if the U.S. shows the will to de-escalate and restrain further military action. There is also concern that this could follow a trajectory similar to Iraq, leading to prolonged instability, sectarian violence, and a weakened state. Past interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan serve as stark reminders of the long-term consequences of such wars, where nations were left deeply fractured after U.S. withdrawal.

S. Sivakumar,

Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu

‘Double engine’

It is hugely concerning to note that in the name of the ‘double engine’, State governments ruled by Opposition parties are being continuously discriminated against in all matters of governance, thereby affecting federalism and Centre-State relations. The other serious aspect of gubernatorial overreach is something that goes on unchecked despite judicial intervention. The ‘double engine’ model is hardly reassuring.

J. Anantha Padmanabhan,

Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu

The issue is transparency

The LPG, fuel and oil supply issue cannot be written off or attributed to panic buying. It is common knowledge that the shortage has been due to the ongoing war. Why is the government not coming clean on shortages? The trust shown by the people during demonetisation and the pandemic needs to be repaid by the government.

Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad