To the editor:
Jonah Goldberg nearly captured the essence of why former President Trump is pushing for what he hopes will be a peace deal between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. In his column (“Here’s the key to understanding Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war,” March 4), Goldberg comes tantalizingly close to revealing Trump’s desire to be a pivotal figure in any such negotiation. In my opinion, Trump’s drive to have Zelensky yield stems from events dating back 15 years, specifically when then-President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It seems Trump’s willing to drag out a war that causes countless deaths, just so he can eventually claim to be the one who ended it and, in turn, eye the Nobel Prize for himself. His ego and insecurities know no limits.
David L. Burdick, Ridgecrest
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To the editor:
Goldberg might be onto something. What if Trump’s real aim is to bag the Nobel Peace Prize and land another appearance on Time magazine’s cover? His focus appears solely on deals that serve his interests.
Robert Impellizzeri, Moorpark
The writer is a retired U.S. Army colonel.
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To the editor:
I found Goldberg’s column surprisingly insightful and accurate. It perfectly captures Trump’s modus operandi: “just say.” Truth, justice, the Constitution—they’re all secondary in his world. Don’t forget how he urged the Georgia secretary of state to “find” 11,780 votes, which is just another tinted reflection of this mentality.
While Goldberg presents this reality, he doesn’t offer solutions. I’d recommend that House Democrats craft and present compelling motions for impeachment—keeping the conversation alive. Of course, I’m open to hearing other suggestions.
Mike Holtzman, San Luis Obispo
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To the editor:
Goldberg deserves recognition for his commentary on the Ukraine conflict and Trump’s egotism (“Whether Russia invaded Ukraine is not a ‘complicated’ question. Why say it is?” Feb. 25). While he rightfully questions the character and intentions of Trump, creating waves of confusion as officials navigate the issue, Goldberg swiftly turns the spotlight on his own targets: the Biden administration and Democrats.
At this juncture, questions of false equivalency may arise, akin to criticizing Hitler’s atrocities then quickly shifting to the Weimar Republic’s failings. While the Weimar Republic had its flaws, these pale next to the stark malevolence of Nazism.
Similarly, whatever shortfalls the Biden administration may have, and Democrats still struggle with, are minor compared to the blatant dismantling of American governance. The narrative spun by the administration often echoes Putin’s deceitful rhetoric, designed to further Trump’s interests. Goldberg can’t resist taking a jab at Democrats while pointing fingers at Biden, perhaps to gloss over the GOP’s ongoing turmoil. I wish he’d address the corruption within the GOP and leave it at that.
The Rev. Tom Eggebeen, Pasadena
