Nobel dramas
Re: "PM sets terms for Trump: US wants to mediate Cambodia conflict", (BP, Oct 9).
If United States President Donald Trump wants to take credit for the peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, he has to understand the complicated issues involved, the presence of illegal casinos and scam centres in the grey area, and the historical border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. A peace deal is still nowhere in sight.
Although the Nobel Peace Prize has lost its lustre in recent years, and has become a political propaganda machine of the West on human rights, Mr Trump is still far from being qualified as a recipient.
President Trump is not just a narcissist, he has a personal grudge against Barack Obama, and has complained that Mr Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize even before taking office.
If President Trump did not receive the nomination, he could brag that, for once, he is dwarfed by Mr Obama's record of ordering more air strikes on foreign countries than any other US president in modern history.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
Packing them in
I really sympathised with the air stewards and hostesses of TG343 on Oct 5. They had to answer questions and manage unpleasant situations beyond their control.
The flight from Jakarta to Bangkok was packed, especially in the economy compartment. The Airbus A330-300-33C has a total of 264 seats, with 185 seats in economy, followed by 48 seats in premium economy and 31 in Royal Silk.
For the economy class, there are only four toilets -- two in the middle and two at the rear. Throughout the three-hour flight, the toilets were full.
Most of the travellers were family members, including senior citizens. Quite a few did not know that the "blue" light means a vacant toilet. They could also open an occupied toilet without knowing it. One of the rear doors did not have an inside lock handle, so it could not be closed.
Passengers who travel with Thai International expect more from the national carrier, which has undergone reform and remarketing.
While the food served was delicious (sliced duck noodles), including the dessert (cha thai mochi), the waiting time at the airport was too long.
The flight was delayed for nearly an hour, with passengers waiting at the bridge for half an hour.
As a faithful passenger for 47 years, it is disappointing that Thai International places more importance on quantity than quality.
Macon Leary
Puppetry ran amok
Re: "Whose story holds?", (PostBag, Sept 11) & "False equations", (PostBag, Oct 7).
Keith Barlow makes the same point I've made, which is if all this talk about Israel genocide is Hamas propaganda then we must also assume that virtually every reputable human rights and aid groups in the world, including Israeli human rights groups, are nothing but anti-Semitic puppets of Hamas.
A recent pro-Israel letter titled False Equations implied that Palestinians weren't really starving. At this point I can only ask: Have you any shame?
Eric Bahrt
Made of stronger stuff
Re: "Narcotic nightmare", & "Selective logic", (PostBag, Oct 10).
I read both letters by Yingwai Suchaovanich and Felix Qui presenting both sides of the narcotic problem.
I think I might have something to add to Mr Qui's comments.
While cannabis (and many narcotics) do stimulate the creative centres of the brain and a few famous people did not crash and burn their lives, I would say Yingwai Suchaovanich was correct in pointing out that our youth is drugged out.
It is arguable that those few famous people Mr Qui cited are the exception; not a norm to base public drug policy upon.
Finally, I don't feel you can make direct comparisons between booze and weed because alcohol is not a narcotic.
I've noticed many recent reports of shocking tourist behaviour allegedly implicate weed; few said they were drunk.
That's merely anecdotal perhaps, but interesting nonetheless.
Jason A Jellison
