Sir, – It has been hard to avoid the near-universal swoon for Justin Trudeau that has taken across the West recently. But I have noticed that in all the ink spilled praising him, his policies are rarely if ever discussed. People seldom mention for instance that he is expanding fossil fuel extraction in Canada at a rate that would make Donald Trump blush, or the fact that he routinely approves billions of dollars worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other murderous autocracies. When Donald Trump pursues these policies, liberals the world over call him out on it.
But it seems that as long as these same policies are being enacted by a good-looking, vaguely progressive leader, those same liberals will not only be silent, but will cheer him on. We really are doomed. – Yours, etc,
COLM O’MAHONY,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Your picture of Leo Varadkar and his guest Justin Trudeau running in the park makes a refreshing change from an image of lowering pints in the pub. – Yours, etc,
BRENDA GRANVILLE,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Two international leaders – Leo and Justin – meet, without any sign or sight of a pint or a pub!
Is this a record? Congratulations! – Yours, etc,
LIAM MORRISON,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4
Sir, – Justin Trudeau is not a head of state, nor is he a member of the royal family, nor is he the governor general of the Dominion of Canada, so I fail to see, contrary to your headline of July 3rd, how he could have made a state visit to this country.
As prime minister of Canada, I believe the term that should have been used was official visit. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT GRACE,
Dublin 2.