Trump has no right to refuse to listen to the tape of Saudi journalist’s murder

Anyone can understand President Donald Trump’s reasons for not wanting to listen to the tape of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, leaders have a responsibility to confront the brutal realities of their responsibilities without losing sight of their highest objective of bringing peace to the world.

Mr Trump has on many occasions declared his belief in the use of all kinds of violence as punishment to secure information, as well as it being a legitimate tool to administer justice. He condoned the use of torture being reintroduced to the armed forces in January 2017. He called on the police not to be “too nice” when arresting criminals in February 2017 and even advised his followers to “knock the crap out of hecklers” at his rallies in January 2016. The irony of all of this is that his willingness to overlook the perpetrators and methods of the murder of Mr Khashoggi is influenced by his deep desire to supply them with even more weapons of mass destruction simply because it will bring jobs to his country and presumably secure votes to sustain his short term in power.

Now it appears that actually seeing or hearing the graphic reality of the excruciating pain and destruction inflicted would offend his sensitivities.

Perhaps Mr Trump, needs to listen and understand the words of Burns when he said: “O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us

“To see oursels as ithers see us!”

GAVIN CARGILL Edinburgh Road,

Linlithgow