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Afghan chaos undercuts Biden's promise of competence


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2021 Aug 18, 2:48pm   163,680 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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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.
94   Patrick   2021 Sep 12, 4:44pm  

https://notthebee.com/article/report-the-biden-administration-said-it-droned-an-isis-terrorist-but-it-was-actually-just-an-aid-worker

The Biden administration last month said it had fired on and killed what was believed to be an ISIS associate driving a car full of explosives in Afghanistan; the strike was symbolic for being the last missile fired by the U.S. over the course of its 20 years in Afghanistan. Yet a bombshell New York Times report argues that the drone strike killed not a terrorist but a worker for a U.S. aid group


This also undermines any "promise of competence".
95   HeadSet   2021 Sep 12, 7:42pm  

Patrick says
et a bombshell New York Times report argues that the drone strike killed not a terrorist but a worker for a U.S. aid group

And the aid worker's children....
96   ChauvinsKnee   2021 Sep 12, 8:56pm  

Patrick says
https://notthebee.com/article/report-the-biden-administration-said-it-droned-an-isis-terrorist-but-it-was-actually-just-an-aid-worker

The Biden administration last month said it had fired on and killed what was believed to be an ISIS associate driving a car full of explosives in Afghanistan; the strike was symbolic for being the last missile fired by the U.S. over the course of its 20 years in Afghanistan. Yet a bombshell New York Times report argues that the drone strike killed not a terrorist but a worker for a U.S. aid group


This also undermines any "promise of competence".


Anything they touch immediately turns into shit. It's like a reverse King Midas. It's almost comical.
97   richwicks   2021 Sep 12, 9:41pm  

ChauvinsKnee says
It's almost comical.


What do you mean "almost"?

We're in clown world. We've been in it for 20 years. Our government has no compunction about lying, what's funny is people still believe it.

Where's that weapons of mass destruction program in Iraq? I thought that was the lie that would ultimately bring the government down, but NOPE. The lies will just get bigger and bigger until nobody puts up with it anymore. We have an entirely illegitimate government - people just don't recognize it yet.

Our media lies to us, our government lies to us, our intelligence agencies lie to us, our DOJ lies to us. This is because they are blatant criminals. If they told the truth, there'd be bodies hanging from lampposts tomorrow. I'm used to this, just feed them more rope. Truth is treason in the empire of lies. Well, I guess I'm a traitor.

I'm seriously amazed people still have any faith in our government, that they believe them at this point. How can anybody believe anything they say? Biden is the most popular presidential candidate as a percentage of the eligible vote in all of US history. Do you really think that is true? A man that couldn't get 50 people to show up to a campaign event? It's fucking hilarious.
98   Eric Holder   2021 Sep 13, 10:27am  

richwicks says
ChauvinsKnee says
It's almost comical.


What do you mean "almost"?


Because really it's more scary than truly comical?
99   richwicks   2021 Sep 13, 10:34am  

Eric Holder says
richwicks says
ChauvinsKnee says
It's almost comical.


What do you mean "almost"?


Because really it's more scary than truly comical?


No, it's entirely comical.

What did people EXPECT to happen?

We have a completely corrupt, incompetent, establishment, that couldn't give a FUCK about the people in Afghanistan and have been fighting a war for 20 years with NO intention of winning it, in order to rake in government contracts and make money.

We allow these fucking mother fuckers to do this. You want this kind of crap to stop? Get rid of the assholes in power or it's going to continue.
100   Patrick   2021 Sep 13, 12:47pm  

richwicks says
Get rid of the assholes in power or it's going to continue.




They have the support of about half of the population.

That's the real problem.
101   richwicks   2021 Sep 13, 1:54pm  

Patrick says
richwicks says
Get rid of the assholes in power or it's going to continue.




They have the support of about half of the population.

That's the real problem.


No, they don't have support of 1/2 the population.

It might be 20% of the population. Do you know anybody that would say "yes, I approve of my government, and I'm happy with what they are doing"?

Force is what keeps our government in power. It's stick only, there's no carrot for most people.
102   Patrick   2021 Sep 14, 2:05pm  

https://notthebee.com/article/trump-i-guarantee-china-and-russia-already-have-our-apache-helicopters-and-theyre-taking-them-apart-to-find-out-exactly-how-theyre-made

"Now I'm saying, ‘How can they take this equipment?' And I guarantee that China and Russia already have our Apache helicopters and they're taking them apart to find out exactly how they're made. They're the best in the world by far. And they're taking them apart so they can make the exact same equipment. They're very good at that. It's a disgrace.

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