Above the fold
WSJBDN?
What do a botched departure plan, a George Stephanopolous interview, two disastrous press conferences, and a thrice interrupted vacation all have in common?
That’s an easy one. They’re all bad acts on the biggest international stage at a time that the brightest lights were shining and the world was watching. And, they all occurred after the fact.
What fact is that, you ask? That’s another easy one. President Joe Biden decided to withdraw the last of the troops before providing all Americans (first), helpful Afghans (second), and journalists (third) a safe passage out of what’s left to Afghanistan is that fact.
With Kabul’s airport looking like Chicago’s O’Hare the day before Christmas in a whiteout blizzard, only the checkpoints to get there look tougher than the United Airlines reschedule flights line.
So, WSJBDN? What should Joe Biden do now? Well, while you mull that over, realize that Kamala can’t be part of your answer. She jetted off to Singapore a day ago for unknown reasons and likely unimportant ones as well. When asked a question upon arrival that she should be plenty prepped for, her nervous laughter is a bad “tell” and makes for a poor poker player. But, we digress.
What Joe Biden should do now, in between naps, is send roughly another 20k troops back into the occupied for 20 years and counting cesspool that Afghanistan is. He’s sent 6k back in a mere two weeks after he pulled the last 2.5k out.
If you’re going to do a job, well, git er dun dammit.
You’re already pot committed. Go all in to get all out. Get it? He didn’t get it then, but he desperately needs to now.
Saying that you’re negotiating with the same people you fought against doesn’t cut it. Saying that you don’t trust them doesn’t cut it. And, most of all, saying that you aren’t sure that you can provide safe passage out of Kabul for our trapped loved ones doesn’t cut it whatsoever.
Sometimes we’re called Ugly Americans. At least we used to be. If nothing else we expect strong confidence and dealing from a position of strength. We have a weak hand right now. We look even weaker. Oh to be called ugly again. Those were the days Archie might say.
Then, when the last travel passport is stamped we can line up the flights for every soldier to head back too, but not before.
Only then can we get back to worrying about green new deals, pronouns of choice, infrastructure that isn’t infrastructure, temporary inflation, the resurrection of the insurrection, and most of all the vaccine passports.
Hopefully, Kamala will be back by then. Because we could use a good booster shot and a laugh.
And soon.
Comment section
Dudes with the funny helmets and the American rifles now have all the leverage.
Dear Dr. LongBeard—–that is correct. But what’s a trillion amongst friends?
Well said.
Thank you Ms. Shelley.
Related Posts: