To the Editor:

As a semi-retired resident of Western North Carolina, I never expected to spend this stage of life focused on whether I can trust my decision makers to act in the best interests of our community, our region and our country. 

The United States cannot keep breaking the rules of international law and then congratulate itself for the results. That is the uncomfortable truth exposed by the 2026 military operations in Venezuela and Iran. Both actions removed brutal, destabilizing leaders — one captured and jailed, the other killed. Many around the world understandably welcomed those outcomes. But the way the United States achieved them violated the very legal order that keeps the world from sliding toward permanent conflict. 

The recent history of international relations is fraught with examples where the sanctity of law has been compromised for political expediency. Among the most troubling instances is the Trump Administration’s alarming approach to countering drug cartels — a response that not only skirts the boundaries of legality but also risks undermining the United States’ long-standing commitment to the rule of law on the global stage. 

To the Editor:

Irrespective of your political position or party, all aware Americans should have been embarrassed by President Trump’s performance at the United Nations. For nearly an hour he presented clearly refutable lie after lie interspersed with petty peevish complaints. 

To the Editor:

Amidst an unprecedented border crisis in the United States, the United Nations’ aid plan for migrants heading to the United States border is a monumental effort, encompassing cash giveaways and assistance to illegal migrants.