To the Editor:
Re “Winding Down War With Goals Unmet” (news analysis, front page, June 16):
If anyone had doubts about the incompetence of President Trump and his administration, this deal with Iran proves it.
We gained nothing, and Iran proved that it could force the United States to back down on its terms. No unconditional surrender, no obliteration of the Iranians’ nuclear ambitions, and no end to their support for terrorist proxies. All at a cost of billions of dollars and American prestige.
No matter how you spin it, Mr. Trump lost this war.
Gil Stein Aptos, Calif.
To the Editor:
President Trump took the country to war without the consent of the American people, and with opposition from our traditional allies.
It has cost lives and led to inflation and a loss of confidence in America’s leadership throughout the world.
But Mr. Trump is not the first president to take the country into wars that have ended in disaster for the United States: The wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan had a similar fate.
It’s time that the nation reflected on how we got to where we are with respect to going to war, before we stumble into another one.
John A. Viteritti Laurel, N.Y.
To the Editor:
Apparently both Russia and the United States misjudged the inability of military might to crush smaller countries like Ukraine and Iran. Britain learned the same lesson 250 years ago, but President Trump apparently did not see the parallel.
John Immerwahr Bryn Mawr, Pa.
The Affordability Crisis
To the Editor:
Every trip to the gas station or the grocery store tells the same story: America is in the grip of a serious affordability crisis, and those in power refuse to admit it.
Republicans control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. They have the authority and the tools to act. And they have not.
The House speaker, Mike Johnson, and the Senate majority leader, John Thune, lead a party that promised to lower costs for everyday Americans. That promise has gone unfulfilled.
Rather than challenging the tariff policies that economists broadly agree are driving up consumer prices, Republican leaders have fallen in line — prioritizing loyalty to President Trump over the financial well-being of their constituents.
The White House insists there is no crisis: Prices are fine; the economy is strong. But Americans know the difference between what they are being told and what they experience every day. That is not leadership. That is gaslighting.
The electorate is not quietly dissatisfied. It is furious. November 2026 is not far away, and the Republican leadership would do well to remember that.
Nick Mariani San Jose, Calif.
To All the Wonderful Dads
To the Editor:
Re “Behind Every Dad Bod Is a Healthy Dad Brain,” by Darby Saxbe (Opinion guest essay, June 9):
Not everyone has the chance — or makes the choice — to be a father. But how great it is that Dr. Saxbe’s research shows that “when it comes to brain health and mental fitness, becoming a father is one of the best things you can do.”
Having a wonderful dad is good for kids, and it turns out, being a wonderful dad is good for the men themselves.
My dad died when I was 25. He never met my kids or grandkids. But I’m a better parent, grandparent and person because he was so engaged and loving.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, and here’s to the caring and trustworthy relatives, teachers, coaches, friends and neighbors who step in and have a positive effect on kids’ lives. It takes a village, and when adults are nurturing, everyone wins.
Carol Weston Armonk, N.Y. The writer is an advice columnist at Girls’ Life.
Safe to Track
To the Editor:
Re “Stop Tracking Your Friends and Lovers,” by Jessica Grose (Opinion, June 4):
I understand; I really do. It would be a breach of trust to track your mate. On the other hand, this 70-year-old is much comforted knowing that his wife is safe.
I don’t care where she goes. I do feel comforted knowing she arrived at her destination.
Doug Evenson Helendale, Calif.
To the Editor:
In our era of extended longevity, some seniors (including me at 91, and a few others) do not fear mutual location tracking. The important question they may want and need answered is not “Where are you?” but rather “Where am I?”
Herbert Rakatansky Providence, R.I.
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