Tucson Speaks Out: March 24

On bended knee

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is telling everyone to get on bended knee and pray to Jesus for our troops and for military success in Trump's 2026 Great Crusade. I seriously doubt if Jesus would approve of or be pleased with what Trump has wrought. Bringing religion into this ill-conceived war is nauseating. I think Hegseth should ask for prayers and the help of Jesus in getting to the bottom of the Epstein situation — that would be far more worthy of Divine intervention. Trump's war is costing a billion a day. He wants another 200 billion appropriated (at least). Where is Elon and his chainsaw?

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Iran's sanctioned oil

In a move marked by stunning stupidity and blatant self-interest, the Trump administration has lifted sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea.

Understand that in order to potentially see a savings of a few cents at the pump, not out of concern for the American consumer but to lessen the backlash from voters, Trump is willing to give the Iranians BILLIONS of dollars to purchase more drones and bombs to use against American interests and servicemembers. This of course, follows the similar action to remove sanctions on Russian oil, which helps Putin fund his war in Ukraine.

After years of Republicans blasting Presidents Obama and Biden for releasing frozen Iranian funds, some going back to 1979, we will soon be "treated" to a dazzling display of hypocrisy and arrogance from Republican elected officials and hypnotized cult followers, who will defend the actions of a man so incompetent, that he would actually help Iran fund the killing of Americans.

Glen Vann

West side

Dancing on one's grave

Upon hearing that Robert Mueller had died, Trump said he was glad that he was dead. Mueller, who graduated from Princeton, was a Marine wounded in combat, was selected by George Bush to oversee the FBI, and retired, was selected to investigate Russia's involvement in the 2016 election, precisely because he was fair-minded, apolitical, and respected by both parties.

For a person given high office to celebrate anyone's death, let alone a person so distinguished, is the ultimate indignity, and only reflects the coarse meanness of Trump's character. To celebrate the death of anyone is a mean spirited slur. Contrast to that the words of John Donne, uttered over four centuries ago...

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

John Schmidt

Southwest side

Kudos to Pima women's basketball

Congratulations to the Pima College women's basketball team and Coach Todd Holthaus for winning the NJCAA tournament this past weekend. It was an especially sweet victory after last year's heartbreaking loss in the finals.

I often have to read about these remarkable young women on page 7 or 8 of the sports section — understandable, I suppose, due to that "other" Tucson institution of higher education. And their Saturday win occurred too late for the Star's Sunday's deadline. But it was really disappointing to see their national championship relegated to a thumbnail on the breaking news home page of the Star's website, while the featured story was a preview of the UA football defensive backs.

The hard work, dedication and tenacity of this women's team is no less than any other collegiate sports team, and winning a national title is proof of that. As a community, let's celebrate these champions!

Laura Penny

Foothills

War dividends

Thank you, President Trump, for promoting renewable energy. Forcing the entire industrialized world to turn to solar, wind, and geothermal by decimating the Middle East’s capacity to produce fossil energy, brilliant! Once China and India fully adopt, it will be easy for the U.S. to import the technology. And if Americans love anything, it’s ease.

Thanks too for giving Arizona up for copper mining. We’re gonna need that for all the upcoming renewables and the water’s gone so ... Hudbay’s choice of showcasing the soon-to-be-defunct Hoover Dam and Central Arizona Project is kind of a peculiar choice for promoting their soon-to-be exported products. These unsustainable and foolhardy structures are what you want to compare yourself to?

Cynthia Duncan

Midtown

Blatant antisemitism

Yet another uninformed and ignorant claim of genocide in the LTE. Carelessly and incorrectly throwing charges of genocide at Israel is not only antisemitic but historically incorrect. Countless wars throughout history have resulted in civilian casualties. In WWII hundreds of thousands civilian casualties in Germany, France, Belgium etal occurred as result of the fighting and bombing which leveled major cities throughout Germany and Europe as well as Japan. Remember Hiroshima? Not genocide. Rounding up millions of people for torture, cruelty and annihilation because they were Jews? Yes, genocide.

Mr. Robinson points to the occupation of Gaza after the 1967 war but fails to note it was a war started by the Arab world. Occupation is a common action after defeating an enemy. But when occupation and civilian casualties occur by a Jewish state it's genocide. Hamas and Gaza started the war proclaiming annihilation to Israel and death to Jews from the "river to the sea," so Israel fights!

Dennis Abrams

Northwest side

Nuclear paranoia

During our nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, there was a term called mutually assured destruction (MAD), where each player in the standoff, risked destruction of their own nation, should they initiate a nuclear strike. This can be somewhat applied to Iran using a nuclear weapon, especially when considering the fact that they would only have fission weapons. Israel and the US both have fusion weapons and considering that these have 1000X the yield of fission weapons, a nuclear exchange involving both types would result in the total destruction of the major cities in Iran. For Iran to launch a first strike against Israel would be national suicide. Iran knows about the nuclear stockpiles of its adversaries and knows it would be foolish to start a nuclear conflict. Our paranoia about Iran’s nuclear ambitions is unfounded. Iran cannot afford to take the risk of using nuclear weapons.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

Why not?

If Cesar Chavez is to be dismantled, erased and painted over; then why isn’t President Trump’s image being dismantled, erased and painted over? Such hypocrisy!

Lenna Burnham

Oro Valley

Inflationary dollars?

Will Trump bankrupt the United States? Let’s look at his management of the economy. He has lowered taxes. Amount added to the deficit over 10 years is $2.4 to $3.4 trillion. Trump sees tariffs as an answer for raising funds. Not much there and it’s an added tax which we pay through increased prices. He has “saved” money by cuts in vast sections of our government, like healthcare and education. He has involved our country in a war that is an example of his inability to plan and execute. It costs billions each day. The Pentagon is also asking for an additional $200 billion for replenishment of weapons. We can’t afford this for much longer. If we are spending more than we are taking in, Trump may have to resort to printing more money to meet our debts. Then watch for the dollar to fall and inflation to rise.

Michael Mount

Foothills

Memo to DJT

Dear Donald, you and I both know you are a grifting fraud and the worst president in our history. Any quarter wit knows this as well. Agreed, you have done an outstanding job in alienating more than half the country and outwitted the rest who watch Fox News, God help them, and we know you have done everything in your power to destroy our democracy, but the time has come to declare victory and resign. You and your shameless marauders have done a number on this country and it will take a long time to make the necessary repairs. We know that you suffer terribly with a bone spur ailment that's constrained your ability to play even more golf, and we can sympathize with that. But if you have one unaffected patriotic bone in your body, you must agree that it's time to go. Leave like you did the last time, slither away quietly among a small coterie of well-wishers.

Thank you for attention to this matter.

William Muto

SaddleBrooke

Standing for Robert Mueller

President Trump recently posted that he was glad that Robert Mueller was dead. Mr. Mueller was a rifle company commander of Marines in Vietnam in 1968, leading his men in vicious fights with the North Vietnamese Army just South of the DMZ. He represented the best of the Marine officer corps and I'm sure the men he led would have followed him to hell and back if he ordered them to.

As a Marine myself, I can't fathom why President Trump would dig down into the depravity of his soul to say something so despicable about a man who gave so much of himself to defend our country and later serve in law enforcement. This country was fortunate to have a hero like Mr. Mueller, and now he has gone to a new duty station at the gates of heaven. Semper Fidelis Mr. Mueller.

Lee Aitken

Northwest side

You won't print this either

After several requests for the Arizona Daily Star to print how many letters to the editor you printed, for the top 10 contributors in 2025, one more last specific request: In the last month, how many letters from Phillip Reinecker have you printed? What happened to the one letter per month rule?? Many of us are tired of the same old B.S. from the same people.

Richard Aufmuth

Foothills