Amid confusion and chaos, catastrophe is likely

San Francisco: In the 2003 documentary “The Fog of War,” Robert McNamara, secretary of defense for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, offered a mea culpa as he sought to come to terms with mistakes made during a Vietnam War that ripped America at the seams. For McNamara, the fog of war is so confusing, complex, chaotic and disorienting that there can be catastrophic mistakes and deadly consequences.

The deaths of at least 175 people, mainly children, at an Iranian girls’ school at the outset of the bombardment of Iran by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 is that kind of catastrophe. It’s reported that poor intelligence led to a U.S. munition striking the school. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia has called for a thorough investigation. It’s deeply troubling that in the absence of clear evidence, President Trump stated that the attack “was done by Iran.” Prevarication from the president causes me to question the necessity of this war and the expectation of an endgame that will not result in American lives being lost thoughtlessly or under deceptive pretenses.

I was troubled to read the report that Russia is providing real-time intelligence to Iran of the locations of U.S. troops, ships and aircraft. It seems an incredible travesty that as this occurs, the president lifted sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil — a windfall for Vladimir Putin as he begins his spring offensive against Ukraine! Bruce Farrell Rosen

Oriental, N.C.: Thirteen military personnel have died because of this madman in the Oval Office. Parents, spouses, children and families are grieving their loved ones. How dare this inhumane moron Trump play with toy fighter jets at his desk and laugh! He has isolated us from our allies and then is angry when they won’t take part in this illegal war. I applaud those countries who stand up to him. He lifts tariffs from evil Putin after Russia was giving Iran locations of our service men and women to be bombed! Calling our troops suckers and losers and now telling them to “be brave”! It’s unbelievable coming from Mr. Bone Spurs, the coward himself. Beth Larsen

Seaford, L.I.: Voicer Josephine Kay stated that Barack Obama had a nuclear deal with Iran and Trump ripped it up. Well, Josephine, here’s another fact you conveniently omitted. That deal expired on Oct. 18, 2025, so there was no deal in place. If you want to quote facts, Ms. Kay, don’t leave out the ones you don’t like. Tom Ascher

Bronx: After days of asking Europeans and others for help to open the Strait of Hormuz, Trump now says he never asked for help. If Trump is suffering from serious dementia, anyone who still believes him is in a much worse mental condition than he is. Randall Borra

Whitestone: I found it difficult to root for the U.S.A. baseball team in the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela. If the U.S.A. team won, Trump would’ve invited them to the White House so he could bask in their glory. Sickening. Good for the women’s U.S.A. hockey Olympic champs for refusing to accommodate the misogynistic Trump. If he invites the champion Venezuelan team to the White House, I have a word of advice: Don’t take a boat. Dorothy Lyons

Kew Gardens: In a cavalier comment about Cuba, Trump said he could do whatever he wants to that island. His remark is like the lewd comments he made to Billy Bush about when you’re a star, you can do whatever you desire to women. Also, it’s chillingly similar to the mindset of a rapist who is about to dominate his victim. Glenn Hayes

Staten Island: To Voicer Barbara Cusano: First off, I apologize for misspelling your name. Let me give you a small example of Republican so-called leadership: Trump has been president for approximately 2% of America’s history, yet he’s responsible for 25% of our national debt. His personal wealth has increased by $5 billion since he’s been president, and he plays golf, costing taxpayers $3 million a pop, while he wages war with no clear idea of how it’s going to end. Now he’s begging NATO countries to bail him out. This isn’t leadership. This is a diaper-clad, senile old man surrounded by sycophants and bootlickers, making decisions using a Magic 8 Ball. This is the type of lunacy typical of the Republican Party. And you want it to continue? Victor R. Stanwick

Brooklyn: Re “Let all New York families use solar panels for power” (op-ed, March 17): In 1980, I was at the Democratic National Convention here in NYC and joined Democrats for Solar Energy. The logo was a happy donkey wearing sunglasses, bathed in sunlight. Now Lauren Phillips writes in the Daily News her plan to use solar panels. Hard to believe so little progress has been made since then. Eric Wollman

Sunnyside: I can certainly understand why Voicer Nicholas Maffei is worried about the danger from ISIS supporters. However, I don’t think he should’ve criticized Gov. Hochul for condemning white supremacists. Although Jake Lang only managed to gather a handful of supporters for his anti-Muslim rally, we’ve seen the damage that can be done when white supremacists gather in large numbers. That was especially true on Jan. 6, when white supremacist terrorists (many were neo-Nazis) stormed the Capitol and started an insurrection that resulted in the deaths of five heroic police officers. We also need to be troubled by the fact that anti-Jewish hate crimes have increased by 182% in the last year. Perhaps most troubling is that the insurrectionist in chief won a second election. John Francis Fox

Manhattan: How can any New Yorker feel safe when masked federal agents are kidnapping our neighbors and tearing apart our communities – and our own state government and local governments are cooperating with them? Hochul finally embraced some limits on state and local collusion with ICE. But I’m appalled that the governor still wants to allow New York and its cities and counties to share information with an agency that has ripped parents away from children, killed citizens in the streets and allowed at least a dozen people to die in detention so far this year. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins realizes that we need the New York for All Act to protect immigrant New Yorkers and their families and to make us all safer. Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie must approve this legislation quickly. Amy M. Traub

Hallandale Beach, Fla.: Kiki Shepard was the Black Vanna White — or Vanna was the white Kiki Shepard (“Apollo host dies at 74,” March 17). Either way, Kiki was valued in the heart-space of the flock of Harlem and Apollo fans. Rest in peace, Kiki. Paul Bacon

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