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Afghan chaos undercuts Biden's promise of competence


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2021 Aug 18, 2:48pm   162,140 views  1,308 comments

by RWSGFY   ➕follow (4)   💰tip   ignore  






....
The shambolic unravelling of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan comes from a yet to be written textbook of "how to lose at everything". Warnings hadn't been heeded, intelligence was clearly totally inadequate, planning was lamentable, execution woeful.

Let's just focus in on one thing - although there are any number that are worthy of examination.
The withdrawal came during the "fighting season" - a phrase I have to say I have always found rather odd. But in Afghanistan there is a fighting season which starts in spring - and then in winter, when the country freezes over, there is a time when the Taliban go home to their tribal homelands. Did no-one think that it might have been better to have ordered the withdrawal for the dead of winter when Taliban forces weren't there, poised to fill the vacuum?

The end result might have been the same - a Taliban takeover - but it would have almost certainly led to a more orderly drawdown. Yet the Biden administration wanted an eye-catching date. They wanted the withdrawal completed by 11 September. Twenty years on from 9/11 - an artificial, self-imposed deadline.

...

Biden's election campaign could be boiled down to three messages to distinguish himself from Donald Trump. First, he would be more empathetic. He would be more competent. And instead of "America First", it would be replaced by the mantra "America is back".
But in his address yesterday, there wasn't a whole lot of empathy towards the thousands of Afghans who've helped Americans these past 20 years. On competence, even his biggest cheerleaders would struggle to say the withdrawal of American troops has been anything other than shambolic.
And after the bewildering events of the past few days, how exactly is America back?

...

But on the policy itself, Joe Biden is utterly defiant. He summoned up his inner Harry Truman and made clear in his speech that the buck stops with him. He was, however, happy to distribute blame in much the same way that a muck spreader disperses manure in all directions. The Afghan leadership weren't up to it, the Afghan armed forces had no fight in them; Donald Trump had negotiated a bad deal.

...

A fascinating nugget from a briefing that's just been given by Joe Biden's National Security Adviser. Since the fall of Kabul, Jake Sullivan revealed, Biden hadn't spoken to another world leader. Wasn't that just a bit surprising, given that there were a lot of other nations - including Britain - who'd committed vast resources to Afghanistan?

...

When the G7 gathered in Cornwall and the Nato nations met in Brussels the sense of relief was palpable among the prime ministers and presidents that a more outward looking American president was in charge. But given what has unfolded - how America has been humiliated, how Joe Biden embarked on a policy he was cautioned against by these leaders - there is now a good deal more wariness.
And who will feel they have gained most from America's departure - apart from the Taliban, of course? Why, three countries near Afghanistan - Russia, Iran and China. I'm not sure that is what Joe Biden had in mind when he said after his inauguration that "America is back".



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58252174?source=patrick.net

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54   Eric Holder   2021 Aug 27, 4:51pm  

Automan Empire says
Why aren't you judging Trump on results in THIS case? He had 4 years and did nothing to end the quagmire. In the end, he foisted an obligation to leave on an unrealistic timeline (3 months after inauguration) upon his successor.


President leaving office gives his successor two letters and instructs him to open the first one when he fucks up real big and to open the second one when he fucks up again.
So the guy fucks up and opens the first envelope. It says: "Blame the predecessor". <<<<<<<< WE ARE HERE
He does that and goes on with his term.
Then he fucks up the second time and opens the second envelope. It says: "Time to prepare two letters".
55   Patrick   2021 Aug 27, 5:08pm  

Automan Empire says
Why aren't you judging Trump on results in THIS case? He had 4 years and did nothing to end the quagmire. In the end, he foisted an obligation to leave on an unrealistic timeline (3 months after inauguration) upon his successor. Then guys like you give Trump credit for what he "woulda" done and how perfectly it "woulda" gone, while criticizing Biden who's the man actually taking action getting us out of there finally.



Biden had more than 7 months to deal with it.

He utterly failed to deal with it.

So now I know you are not arguing in good faith @"Automan Empire"
57   Robert Sproul   2021 Aug 28, 2:09pm  

Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

4h
So the US Government knew so little about what was happening in Afghanistan that they had no idea the Afghan Security Forces would evaporate and the Taliban immediately take over, but they were able to find within 24 hours the precise ISIS-K "planner" to kill?
OK.
58   Onvacation   2021 Aug 28, 2:11pm  

Patrick says

So now I know you are not arguing in good faith @"Automan Empire"

Obvious troll. He avoids questions and runs away when he paints himself into a corner.

I still like having him around.
59   Onvacation   2021 Aug 28, 2:12pm  

Robert Sproul says
Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

4h
So the US Government knew so little about what was happening in Afghanistan that they had no idea the Afghan Security Forces would evaporate and the Taliban immediately take over, but they were able to find within 24 hours the precise ISIS-K "planner" to kill?
OK.

And "no civilians were killed".
60   RWSGFY   2021 Aug 28, 3:09pm  

Robert Sproul says
Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

4h
So the US Government knew so little about what was happening in Afghanistan that they had no idea the Afghan Security Forces would evaporate and the Taliban immediately take over, but they were able to find within 24 hours the precise ISIS-K "planner" to kill?
OK.


It was probably a wedding planner with his business address listed in the yellow pages.
61   AmericanKulak   2021 Aug 28, 7:20pm  

Another "Top Lieutenant" "Major Planner".

The Taliban security perimeter let him in. You can't hide 25lb of explosive vest in the August Heat of Afghanistan and get through even the most rudimentary security checkpoint.

ISIS, AQ, and Taliban all share Shari'a Supremacy in common, as do large majorities in most Muslim Countries.

Just like I am not a Catholic but I love Bishop Sheen and like the Church Militant website.
62   Patrick   2021 Aug 29, 9:31am  

Patrick says
Biden had more than 7 months to deal with it.

He utterly failed to deal with it.


https://spectatorworld.com/topic/cost-tragedy-kabul-airport/


Biden himself overruled the generals who wanted to keep a small residual force in Afghanistan to provide intelligence and air support for the Afghan army. Biden himself decided to execute this withdrawal in the middle of the fighting season, not during the winter lull, when Taliban commanders pull back temporarily to Pakistan. Moreover, we tried to execute the entire withdrawal from a single airport, having abruptly abandoned the major airbase at Bagram, literally in the middle of the night and apparently without arranging for our local partners to replace our troops there. That left the US with only one location to stage its evacuation and provided terrorists a rich target to attack. His perceived weakness and the lack of military resources on the ground invited attacks by our enemies and endangered every American who remained.

The Biden administration will pay a huge price for this slaughter and humiliating defeat. So will our country and our friends abroad.


Biden personally made the bad decisions.

He was probably too focused on following mafia orders to mandate the jab for everyone, including those with excellent natural immunity and children.
63   HeadSet   2021 Aug 29, 11:05am  

Patrick says
The Biden administration will pay a huge price for this slaughter and humiliating defeat.

Fat Chance. Do not even expect to see any staff fired over this.
65   Patrick   2021 Aug 31, 9:46am  

https://spectatorworld.com/radio/who-is-ron-klain-and-is-he-running-america/


President Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain is set to have a large bash for his 60th with a whopping guest list of the rich and powerful, a list he has been developing since the Clinton administration. But who is the real Ron? A kind caretaker sharing the burden to aid his elderly president — or is Klain in fact the king of the Washington Swamp?
67   Patrick   2021 Aug 31, 1:01pm  

https://notthebee.com/article/da-heck-biden-says-im-not-supposed-to-take-any-questions-when-asked-about-afghanistan

DA HECK? Biden says "I'm not supposed to take any questions" and then turns away when asked about Afghanistan
68   Patrick   2021 Sep 1, 1:14pm  

https://notthebee.com/article/a-whopping-eight-seven-retired-generals-and-admirals-are-calling-for-gen-milley-and-defense-sec-austin-to-resign-over-afghanistan-withdrawal-


A whopping EIGHTY SEVEN retired generals and admirals are calling for Gen. Milley and Defense Sec. Austin to resign over Afghanistan disaster 👀
72   Patrick   2021 Sep 2, 9:41am  

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/taliban-better-armed-nato-afghanistan/


The Taliban is now better armed than almost every Nato country
The Biden administration has pulled off a military-political defeat that gets worse the more you look at it

September 2, 2021 | 2:53 am
73   Patrick   2021 Sep 2, 10:26am  

https://babylonbee.com/news/republican-politicians-vow-to-get-real-mad-and-stuff-following-afghanistan-crisis





WASHINGTON, D.C.—With Americans and Afghan allies still trapped in Afghanistan, Republican politicians are vowing to respond by getting "real mad and stuff" about it.

"Oh yeah, you bet I'm mad! I'm spittin' mad, I sure am," said Senator Lindsey Graham. "And let me tell y'all, Biden wouldn't like ol' Lindsey when he's angry! I'll make him pay for what he done to our boys in Afghanistan—you know—by being really mad at him."

Sources say Senator Graham and others may even pound their fists on a podium while talking about it, or raise their voices slightly, but not enough to break the rules of decorum. They will then send a bunch of angry emails to their email lists saying how angry they are—with links to donate to their reelection campaigns.

Senator Mitch Mcconnell also weighed in. "Yup, I'm purdy mad too," he said at a fundraising dinner while wiping some caviar from his neck which was also his chin. "Biden sure will be sorry when he answers to ol' Mitch!"

Republicans vow to stay really mad until the next news cycle makes everyone forget about all this.
74   Patrick   2021 Sep 2, 10:55am  

https://reclaimthenet.org/biden-administration-ordered-abandoned-weapons-information-removed-websites/

September 2, 2021
Biden Administration ordered abandoned weapons information to be removed from federal websites
Accused of covering the tracks.
78   Patrick   2021 Sep 4, 10:56pm  

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/09/incompetent-woke-military-three-star-general-posts-photo-thinks-u-s-troops-leaving-afghanistan-turns-british/

Our Incompetent Woke Military: Three Star General Posts Photo She Thinks Are U.S. Troops Leaving Afghanistan–Turns Out They’re British
79   AmericanKulak   2021 Sep 4, 11:57pm  

Patrick says
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/09/incompetent-woke-military-three-star-general-posts-photo-thinks-u-s-troops-leaving-afghanistan-turns-british/

Our Incompetent Woke Military: Three Star General Posts Photo She Thinks Are U.S. Troops Leaving Afghanistan–Turns Out They’re British


The three star General also can't spell "Hero's" properly. And she used the possessive instead of the correct plural spelling.

Must have an MBA.
80   Patrick   2021 Sep 5, 12:21am  

One must assume she was promoted because of something other than being objectively qualified for the job.
81   HeadSet   2021 Sep 5, 7:12am  

MisdemeanorRebellionNoCoupForYou says
Our Incompetent Woke Military: Three Star General Posts Photo She Thinks Are U.S. Troops Leaving Afghanistan–Turns Out They’re British

Even more telling. If you have a gathering that large of US soldiers, you are going to see a substantial number of Blacks.
82   ChauvinsKnee   2021 Sep 5, 9:34am  

HeadSet says
MisdemeanorRebellionNoCoupForYou says
Our Incompetent Woke Military: Three Star General Posts Photo She Thinks Are U.S. Troops Leaving Afghanistan–Turns Out They’re British

Even more telling. If you have a gathering that large of US soldiers, you are going to see a substantial number of Blacks.


The first thing I noticed is bullpup rifles - US military doesn't field anything like that.
85   AmericanKulak   2021 Sep 5, 12:02pm  

Patrick says
https://notthebee.com/article/uh-oh-biden-official-samantha-power-photographed-on-amtrak-train-without-a-mask-in-violation-of-federal-law







Massive witch, married to the a Warlock, Sunstein. Who wrote a book about "Nudging" people to better decisions, which was largely panned as "Not differentiating between nudges and shoves"
87   Patrick   2021 Sep 7, 9:52am  

Afghan Interpreter Who Helped Rescue Biden in 2008 Left Behind After U.S. Exit

Mohammed, stranded in Afghanistan and hiding from the Taliban, makes a White House appeal: ‘Don’t forget me here’

The White House responded to a WSJ story about an Afghan interpreter for the U.S. Army, who in 2008 helped rescue then-Sen. Joe Biden and others during a snowstorm in Afghanistan. Mohammed was unable to leave the country before the U.S. exit and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that his service would be honored.

By Dion Nissenbaum
Updated Aug. 31, 2021 5:22 pm ET

Thirteen years ago, Afghan interpreter Mohammed helped rescue then-Sen. Joe Biden and two other senators stranded in a remote Afghanistan valley after their helicopter was forced to land in a snowstorm. Now, Mohammed is asking President Biden to save him.

“Hello Mr. President: Save me and my family,” Mohammed, who asked not to use his full name while in hiding, told The Wall Street Journal as the last Americans flew out of Kabul on Monday. “Don’t forget me here.”


https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-interpreter-who-helped-rescue-biden-in-2008-left-behind-after-u-s-exit-11630429285
88   Patrick   2021 Sep 8, 9:45am  

https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/bring_all_the_troops_home_stop_policing_the_globe_and_put_an_end_to_endless_wars


It’s time that we stop policing the globe, stop occupying other countries, and stop waging endless wars.

That’s not what’s going to happen, of course.


Good essay though.
89   Patrick   2021 Sep 9, 9:45am  

https://babylonbee.com/news/cdc-says-a-new-covid-variant-may-be-needed-to-effectively-bury-afghanistan-news

CDC Says A New COVID Variant May Be Needed To Effectively Bury Afghanistan News
90   zzyzzx   2021 Sep 9, 9:53am  

Afghan chaos undercuts Biden's promise of competence

I don't recall Biden promising any amount of competence??? Anyone got a link?
91   Ceffer   2021 Sep 9, 10:12am  

zzyzzx says
I don't recall Biden promising any amount of competence??? Anyone got a link?

I think he meant 'incontinence'.
92   RWSGFY   2021 Sep 9, 10:14am  

zzyzzx says
Afghan chaos undercuts Biden's promise of competence

I don't recall Biden promising any amount of competence??? Anyone got a link?


All the fucking talking heads promised that.
93   Patrick   2021 Sep 9, 5:21pm  



I know the guy and he said it's OK to keep his name in it.

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