Category: The More Things Change……
Most Voters Don’t Trust What Officials or Media Are Saying About Afghanistan
A majority of voters don’t trust either President Joe Biden’s administration or the news media to tell the truth about the situation in Afghanistan, and most think it’s worse than they’re being told.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 34% of Likely U.S. Voters trust what Biden administration officials are saying about the current situation in Afghanistan. Fifty-four percent (54%) don’t trust what administration officials are saying, while 11% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on August 24-25, 2021 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
I’d tag this as an example of cluelessness, but she’s not clueless, she just has no moral or ethical base. And she probably thinks she’ll never have to account for her hypocrisy and lies, since, so far, she hasn’t.
I often wonder what the looks on their faces will be when the bill comes due.
Barely 24 hours pic.twitter.com/JdougdUsmh
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) August 24, 2021
For those who may think that what is happening in Afghanistan is just a problem for the thousands of Americans and Afghan allies trapped there, a lot has been said about Russia and – especially – China taking advantage of this.
Also, ISIS in Iraq and Syria were pretty much beaten, and, until now, the Taliban were stalemated in Afghanistan, so the international jihad was going nowhere.
Now, that jihad just had a big win and that is going to have a ripple effect.
BLUF:
Every four years, the message is the same:
Trust us, we’re the ones who know what we’re doing.
And yet, the oddest thing happens — the Democratic foreign policy establishment gets in power, and a short while later, so many things go wrong.
American Defeat in Afghanistan Exposes the ‘Smart Power’ Mirage
On the menu today: As the U.S. mission in Afghanistan ends in disaster and the Taliban returns to rule with wanton and widespread cruelty again, it is time to once and for all cast away the notion that the Democrats are the party of “smart power” abroad.
On the menu today: As the U.S. mission in Afghanistan ends in disaster and the Taliban returns to rule with wanton and widespread cruelty again, it is time to once and for all cast away the notion that the Democrats are the party of “smart power” abroad.
The Foreign Policy ‘Smart Set’ Leads America to Defeat Again
Every four years, a Democratic presidential candidate pops up and reminds us that he — or, one cycle, she — represents the smart party when it comes to foreign policy. These Democrats boast that they’re not isolationist, like Donald Trump, and they’re not unilateralist cowboys, like George W. Bush. They, and their top advisers, assure us that they are right, tough, smart, nuanced, and sophisticated. And every four years, the U.S. foreign-policy establishment — think-tank wonks, retired diplomats, columnists and authors, certain retired generals — almost uniformly swoons at these Democratic presidential candidates’ keen grasp of a complicated and dangerous world.
We were told during the Obama years that Joe Biden was an unparalleled diplomatic asset because of his “strategic empathy.” As a candidate, Biden pledged that, “I will take immediate steps to renew U.S. democracy and alliances, protect the United States’ economic future, and once more have America lead the world. . . . This is the time to tap the strength and audacity that took us to victory in two world wars and brought down the Iron Curtain.” Upon Biden’s election, the Financial Times declared that, “the grown-ups are back in charge in Washington.” Biden boasted, shortly after taking the oath of office that, “America is back!”
This is worse than Saigon
America’s humiliation in Afghanistan confirms that the woke West is utterly incapable of standing up for itself.
Everyone is saying it’s like Saigon in 1975. Helicopters evacuating an American embassy. Chaotic, distressing scenes at the local airport as American allies, or just plain fearful people, desperately try to flee the country. American officials convincing absolutely nobody with their unhinged claims that the ‘mission has been successful’ (in Anthony Blinken’s words). It’s clear for all to see, commentators insist: Kabul in 2021 is a replay of Saigon in 1975. America humiliated, its enemies ascendant.
Yet here’s the brutal truth: what is happening right now is worse than Saigon. Yes, America’s defeat in Vietnam was an epoch-shaping humiliation for the self-styled defenders of freedom in the Cold War clash with the ‘Evil Empire’ and its communist allies. But the routing of the US in Afghanistan, the alarmingly swift collapse of its allies in the Afghan government, the fall of Kabul like a house of cards, and the fact that Operation Enduring Freedom, launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, has ended with the endurance of the Taliban instead, with victory for the bad guys – all of this represents the most significant moment of geopolitical decline for the US in decades. Indeed, it raises questions not only about America’s global standing, but also about its very purpose and meaning as a nation.
Report: Taliban Seizing Personal Weapons Because Afghans ‘Can Now Feel Safe’
Taliban jihadists reportedly began seizing personal weapons from Afghans in Kabul on Sunday, claiming civilians “can now feel safe” and no longer need the firearms because the terrorists had taken over the country.
Taliban officials declared victory and the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after occupying the presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar appeared in a Twitter video alongside other Taliban leaders, in which he pronounced victory in the battle for Afghanistan.
“We have achieved an unexpected victory. Now is the time to test, to show how we serve our people and ensure their future in the best possible way,” he reportedly said.
The Guardian reports that Baradar is the Taliban’s “political chief and it’s most public face.” He was released from “a Pakistani jail on the request of the U.S. less than three years ago.”
Within hours of Barader’s announcement, Reuters reported, citing a Taliban official, that the group had begun confiscating weapons in the capital. The outlet quoted him as saying, “We understand people kept weapons for personal safety. They can now feel safe. We are not here to harm innocent civilians.”
They noted MOBY Group media company’s Saad Mohseni, a Kabul resident, tweeted that “Taliban soldiers had come to his company compound to enquire [sic] about the weapons kept by his security team.”
The Moby Group is a news and entertainment provider operating in Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. Moby serves “over 300 million people through its activities in broadcasting, digital and online, production, strategic communications, publishing, music, sports, and research.”
A tweet from TOLONews told the same story:
Taliban entered the TOLOnews compound in Kabul, checked the weapons of the security staff, collected govt-issued weapons, agreed to keep the compound safe. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/LhuMI7Z90u
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 16, 2021
China’s turn to visit “the graveyard of empires”?
China may send peacekeeping force to Afghanistan after US troops leave, observers say
Beijing may consider sending a peacekeeping force to Afghanistan if the security situation in the South Asian country poses a threat to the neighbouring Chinese province of Xinjiang after American troops pull out, analysts said.
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he would withdraw all remaining US troops – about 2,500 – from Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack in New York.
The withdrawal may pose a threat to Afghanistan’s security and stability, which could spill over into Xinjiang and disrupt China’s counterterrorism efforts.
In 2018, China trained Afghan troops and helped set up a mountain brigade. The training took place in China and the aim of the brigade was to counter possible attacks by al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
“The security forces of the Afghan government are not capable of ensuring Afghan security,” said Sun Qi, an international relations specialist at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
“The situation in Afghanistan might go further into chaos in the future. Cross-border crime, drug trafficking and smuggling of firearms may proliferate,” he said. Continue reading “”
With all the past history of the same thing happening every time a demoncrap does crap-for-brains idiocy like this, I’m starting to wonder if ‘unintended consequences’ really fits anymore.
Thousands attend gun show in Jacksonville after Biden orders gun control actions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of people attended the North Florida Gun and Knife Show over the weekend at the Duval County Fairgrounds.
The two-day event was held after President Joe Biden announced a half-dozen executive actions to combat gun violence. The president also called on Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence after recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Colorado and South Carolina.
“Anytime something comes out of Washington and they say the word ‘gun,’ everything goes up,” said Victor Bean, the owner of Southern Classic Gun and Knife Shows.
This weekend’s event attracted firstcomers and gun enthusiasts.
“Just a good selection of firearms, and today is my birthday, so maybe I will get myself a good birthday present,” Chris Carroll, who lives in Clay County, told News4Jax on Sunday.
Mike Chance, a Jacksonville resident, said he was looking forward to looking at ammunition.
“Well, it’s millions and millions of dollars’ worth of guns and ammo,” Bean said.
More than 283 vendors and 386 displays were at the show in Jacksonville, according to Bean.
“Everybody wants the self-defense right now, and the high-capacity mags, of course, they are talking about legislation right now,” Bean said.
“Infrastructure” apparently has a new meaning:
“Favored interest groups who want money.” This used to be called graft.
Okaaaaay
So, if the infrastructure passes, massive payments to bloggers are infrastructure. And I mean massive.
Energy secretary says ‘We don’t want to use past definitions of infrastructure.’
[she reminds me of a elf in a fairytale]
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Sunday that the administration did not want to use past definitions of infrastructure when asked about President Biden‘s $2 trillion plan.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Granholm about criticism by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) regarding Biden not being truthful about what defines infrastructure.
“What is infrastructure? Historically, it’s been what makes the economy move, what is it that we all need to ensure that we as citizens are productive,” Granholm said.
“So we need roads, we need bridges, we need transmission, you need lights in people’s homes and offices, you need to make sure that people can actually go to work if they have an aging parent or a child,” she said, adding that infrastrure “evolves to meet the American people’s aspirations.”
“Bottom line is, though, the president wants to negotiate with Republicans, and he wants to see a common vision for the future,” Granholm said.
“Chris Christie talked about talking about the future,” she said. “We don’t want to use past definitions of infrastructure when we are moving into the future.”
Good Morning everyone.
I hope you have a fine day today and remember, that Daylight Saving Time is now in effect until further notice.
So set you clocks and watches forward, one hour.
Space; the final frontier.
‘Money makes the world solar system go around, the solar system go around……………
U.S. Space Command to recommend investments in space infrastructure.
The U.S. military should consider investments in space “mobility and logistics” to prepare for the future, said Lt. Gen. John Shaw.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military over decades has built extensive infrastructure to move troops and equipment around the world. It may now need to start thinking about investing in foundation technologies to support future activities in space, said Lt. Gen. John Shaw, deputy commander of U.S. Space Command.
“As we move forward, we’re going to want to find ways to be more mobile in space,” Shaw said Feb. 17 at a Washington Space Business Roundtable virtual event.
The U.S. military currently has no plans to deploy troops to space but should consider investments in “mobility and logistics” to prepare for the future, said Shaw.
“If we don’t address those requirements, that would be shutting a door that we need to keep open,” he said.
February 1st, 2013
Biden concedes new laws won’t end gun massacres
Vice President Joe Biden, who spearheaded the White House’s effort to find ways of reducing gun violence, admitted to reporters Thursday that any measures passed by Congress would fail in totally eliminating gun deaths.
Biden was speaking on Capitol Hill after meeting with Democratic lawmakers to build support for gun control legislation currently making its way through Congress. While he said no law could ever eliminate gun deaths, the vice president stressed that attempts must be made to prevent gun violence, particularly as Americans are demanding an answer from the government on how to end tragedies like the December massacre in Connecticut.
“Nothing we are going to do is fundamentally going to alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that we will bring gun deaths down,” Biden said, echoing remarks President Barack Obama made in January when he said “there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely.”