Military expo protesters are naïve about war

Your correspondents objecting to the Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition, and tacitly supporting the antics of the protesters display a charming naivety. To suggest as one did (Letters, 10/9) that the government should be sending food and medicines to areas of conflict rather than military equipment or sponsoring arms events that promote weapons sales reflects detachment from reality.

Neville Chamberlain could have sent Hitler the entire stock of British medical supplies, and its total food production, but that would not have stopped him embarking on military campaigns to occupy multiple countries and condemn Britain to fight for its existence. Similarly, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas terrorist massacre of innocent Israelis would not have been averted by Red Cross food parcels. A violent bully does not back down because he is offered Uber Eats.

Bill Vickers, Melbourne

Name the alternatives

Diplomacy by all means. Who could disagree with your correspondents? But let’s be specific: Xi Jinping claims theChina Sea and Putin believes Ukraine belongs to Russia. Which diplomatic approaches or conflict resolution strategies would your correspondents recommend in these two instances? Let’s assume there is good will on all sides.

Claude Miller, Castlemaine

Halt the carnage

The military expo, being held in Melbourne this week, is attracting protests from people wanting to halt the carnage caused by the industry that will have its offerings on show. It reflects miserably on our democracy that anti-terror legislation is being used against protesters.

That legislation would be more appropriately directed at many of the exhibitors whose victims generally include more civilians than military personnel.

Max Sargent, Thornbury