Damage control
Re: "Jail time for those who sell to minors", (BP, June 18).
The right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing. Ludicrous off-the-cuff diktats for damage control. I would like to meet parents, teachers or persons otherwise who allow children/teenagers to use cannabis in any form.
Ellis O'Brien
Complex weaponry
Re: "Arms for Ukraine", (PostBag, June 18).
I read with interest the letter of June 18 by ML Saksiri Kridakorn. The first thing that came to my mind was "I wonder if he has any military experience and advanced weapons training?" From his letter it seems he has no idea about weapons use. Any weapons given to the Ukraine forces must be ones they know how to use. I understand that, with some of the more complicated weapons so far delivered by the US, Ukrainians have come to the US to be trained in their use. The more advanced the weapon the more careful training is needed. This is true of weapons from the US or other Nato nations. This is a time-consuming process. The US policy is to give the Ukrainians weapons they know how to use! ML Saksiri's comments on US policy are not in line with reality. He needs to learn about the complications of very modern weaponry.
Bravedav
Lottery potential
Re: "Panel wants more tickets sold online", (BP, June 20).
I congratulate PM Prayut for moving lottery ticket sales online, thus controlling prices and reducing costs. Gen Prayut should now retrain the lottery vendors whose income has been abruptly and sharply reduced by this move -- especially the 513,000 physically disabled vendors -- so that they, too, can fulfil their potential. There is no reason why gambling, including lotteries, should be a government activity. Private firms should be allowed to run lotteries, regulated by the SEC along with other financial companies, allowed to set the payout ratios they wish, and be eligible for listing on the SET.
Burin Kantabutra
Not all Russia's fault
Re: "Three myths that justify what cannot be justified", (Opinion, June 17).
Just a few thoughts on Mr David Daly's piece on geopolitics. Very interesting "myths" indeed that actually look like truth. Is Ukraine being used as a proxy by the West to subdue Russia? It is! The article hasn't a single word about Nato and its role in igniting the conflict. Why?
Are the EU and Western sanctions contributing to the rise of food prices? Of course, they are! If the EU cuts imports of oil, gas and fertilisers, introduces sanctions and disrupts payment schemes the prices will inevitably go up. Are the EU and the West pressuring Thailand to pick a side on Russia? This is exactly what the EU does here when it calls on Thailand to support the expulsion of Russia from different international organisations. The UN, which Mr Daly cites often, warned about the risk of a global food crisis two years ago due to the pandemic, global supply chain disruption as well as short-sighted economic policies.
It's easy to accuse Russia of world problems simultaneously pushing "rules-based order". Why not the UN Charter? Who wrote the rules? The EU? Maybe the time has come to recognise EU mistakes? No? And who is waging an aggressive disinformation campaign then?
Pyotr Ivanovich