I GASPED with disbelief when I heard The Donald trumpet this week that it was time America started winning wars again (“ $54bn hike in US military”, the Herald, February 28). Apart altogether from his linguistic contempt for America furth of the United States, unless I am mistaken the last war in which the USA was uniquely victorious was that over the Confederate States of America. I do not think this would retain many votes among his core support. It is true that in 1917, after Europe had been bled dry on the Western and Eastern Fronts, the US came in on the winning side, and that after Pearl Harbor it joined the Russians and the British Empire in crushing the Fascist disease.

Korea all too clearly was not a victory and Vietnam was hardly a re-enactment of the burning of Atlanta. The First Bush War in Iraq was a UN operation and the Second Bush/Blair Iraq War was criminal in international law. But why bother about law or history? The great single-handed victories of the United States can be counted on a pair of fists numbering Caribbean islands and Pacific archipelagos invaded or colonised by the mighty American Victorious Forces. Then again we have the great US victories like Custer's Little Bighorn and the nobility of Wounded Knee.

Perhaps, before engaging in irresponsible rhetoric, the President of the US should have some respect for the heroic conduct of US forces over the years and the sacrifices they have made for wiser leaders than himself. Perhaps he might even reflect that even the US cannot win a war. There are only losers in any war and the expansion of war weapons that Mr Trump proposes promises misery for all but the war profiteers. Do Ruth Davidson and her Tory colleagues still think this is a man with whom we should be holding hands?

K M Campbell,

Bank House, Doune.

HAVING listened to Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress I am convinced it’s the best speech he has made and that it was as good as any given in such a setting.

Not only did he reiterate in a measured way his campaign promises and core policies, he also reached across the aisle to Democrats in the manner of Ronald Reagan 36 years ago.

Though the European bien pensant and America’s coastal elite will never accept it, some 40 days after he was sworn in The Donald is now clearly President of the United States.

Rev Dr John Cameron,

10 Howard Place, St Andrews.