With four more days of President Joe Biden’s rule, there might be some uncertainty of how history will judge him. Occasionally rational, sometimes not, his claims that he reduced the influx of illegal migrants and drugs through the Mexican border stretches credibility. Sabotaging Trump before handover is surely not accepting the Republican’s mandate from the American people. Giving federal employees the right to work from home for the next five years when Trump wished to do the opposite is surely petulant. To accelerate the use of US weapons being used against Russia will impede any attempts for a Trump peace initiative, and yet constantly risks triggering a nuclear response. (Ukraine fires US, UK missiles in its biggest attack, 16/1). While the “Gaza truce” might secure a hostage release, actual regional peace without Iran at the table is fanciful. Trump’s threat that all hostages must be freed by January 20 or “all hell will break loose” is a more attractive option than the confusing concoction of compromises by Qatar, Hamas and Biden’s emissary. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 17Jan2025