By Sherman Frederick
Joe Biden wants Americans to remember his exit from Afghanistan as the “biggest military evacuation” in history. Sorry, Joe. War doesn’t hand out participation trophies.
The president’s original exit plan — and his cascading contingency plans — were so bungled that heads may need to roll. Quite possibly, the president’s.
We saw a president seemingly disconnected from reality on the ground. He tried to reassure America of his experience and judgment, but came across as overwhelmed and confused. Just weeks before the exit, he assured us the Afghan military would hold until the exit was complete. In the fog of that colossal miscalculation, he then told us that, despite what he said before, he knew it was actually “inevitable” that leaving Afghanistan would be “messy.”
This wasn’t the only time that the president gave us two different messages. He said this would not be like a scene from the exit out of Saigon. He assured us he would leave in an orderly fashion and no one would be left behind. His press secretary bristled when a member of the news media characterized Americans as “stranded” behind enemy lines. She said no one was “stranded” because President Biden would be working to get them out even after the military presence ended on Aug. 31.
Stand by for horrific scenes ahead as the Taliban hunts down those left behind — not to rescue them but to kill them or take hostage.
Look, it gives me no joy to say this, but the proper recourse now is for Congress to examine this embarrassment. Was our military intelligence and execution really this FUBAR? Is our commander in chief as diminished as he appears?
I hope the Nevada delegation puts party politics aside and stands united in calling for answers. It’s the only way now to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan.
WHOA!
In case you missed it, take a look at the next step in the march toward the Vaccination State.
In a custody battle in Chicago, the judge asked the mother if she was vaccinated against COVID-19. She said “no” because her doctor advised against it.
The judge then ruled that she could not see her son until she got the vaccine.
Whoa!
ONE MORE THING
— Has anyone else turned on the wrong burner and cooked absolutely nothing for 20 minutes?
— When you read “Lord of the Rings” as a teenager you wanted to be an Elf, because they were powerful and immortal. When you read it as an adult, you just want to be a Hobbit and live in a hole.
— When the car in front of me is driving slowly down the main drag, I move a bit to the side so the car behind me can see it is not me.
Sherman Frederick is a longtime Nevada journalist and member of the Nevada Press Association Hall of Fame. He is co-founder of Battle Born Media. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com, or by phone at 702-525-2440.
Sherman Frederick, What a great article. Looking forward to reading more. Thank you for an astute look into the window of the world, with a little nostalgia on the side.
As expected Frederick boldly hit the nail on the head re our poorly orchestrated departure from Afghanistan… and (sadly) in the days, weeks and months ahead we will see just how correct and spot-on his assessment is. All the lives, money and materials wasted on this debacle will be argued between our two major political parties for years, but assuming (from past actions) how radical Islam will act going forward is a no-brainer, and anyone who thinks/feels differently really needs a reality check. Just my two-cent’s worth.
I am the only one in Mesquite who read your column. Therefore, I am the only one making a comment. Was the exit from Afghanistan orderly? No. Was it entirely Biden’s fault? No. Would an exit under Trump have been any better? Absolutely not. Nothing under Trump went smoothly. Not phone calls, not coups, not insurrections, not managing a virus, nothing. Trump negotiated everything with the Taliban. All Biden did was delay the exit. We had no business spending $2 trillion in a shithole country. Bin Laden was not even in the country. Any blood is on your hands, a typical neocon who will lead us into another ear. After all, the military/ industrial monster needs to be fed.
I highly concur with your childhood illness cures but you left out one thing maybe 2. Castor and or cod liver oil. I’m sure that would chase every variation of Covid from your body.
You really believe that? Would these really have cured measles, polio, smallpox etc.?
Well, Trump started it with a May 1 deadline for withdrawal without involving the Afghanistan Government. The biggest problem I see was the world wide press which announced our plans. If the Taliban was the enemy, why would you announce what your plans were and when you would commence the withdrawal and what did you expect the “enemy” to do. Of course, when they knew our plans, they prepared for it and took advantage of the plans. Imagine if we announced to the world what day and time we would invade the enemy at Normandy. Nobody wins with this situation. The Demorats and the Repupugantcans continue to rule with little thought to the people of the United States.