Totally Dysfunctional

What in the world is going on with our government?  The absolute mess of Afghanistan continues to get worse.  The government was not talking to its allies when it unilaterally decided to withdraw our troops.  It now is obvious that the individual parts of the American government are not talking to each other either.

On Friday, the Avatar stated:

“We have no indication that they haven’t been able to get — in Kabul — through the airport. We’ve made an agreement with the — with the Taliban. Thus far, they’ve allowed them to go through. It’s in their interest for them to go through. So, we know of no circumstance where American citizens are — carrying an American passport — are trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it they get to the airport.” (link)

Politico reported, “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers Friday that Americans trying to leave Afghanistan have been beaten by Taliban fighters, according to several people who participated in a briefing call with Austin and other top officials.

Then there is this video that was telecast while Biden was speaking.

During a Q & A session with reporters, Pelosi said, “Everything sounds like it’s in a good place, everyone just needs to get to the airport.”

At the same time Pelosi was speaking, Sky News reporters were saying people were being crushed to death by crowds.

On Saturday, the US Embassy in Kabul issued the following alert:

“Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so.” (LINK)

CNN stopped Clarissa Ward from reporting outside the gates of the Kabul airport.  Without the live feed that Ward was providing, it is impossible to know what is really going on there because each news media outlet has their own agenda.  No one is reporting the real news.

With that in mind, the Associated Press reported on al-Qaeda and Islamic State elements threatening the area around the airport.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul, a senior U.S. official said Saturday, adding a new complication to the already chaotic efforts to get people out of the country after its swift fall to the Taliban.

The official said that small groups of Americans and possibly other civilians will be given specific instructions on what to do, including movement to transit points where they can be gathered up by the military. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. (read more)

However, it appears that DOD did not know about the security alert or the notice about instructions.  The Pentagon held a press briefing Saturday with Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby and Maj. General Hank Taylor.  After initial comments, the first question was about the State Department telling Americans not to attempt to come to the airport.  Kirby and Taylor did not know about it.

Just what in God’s name is going on in Washington?  It was absolutely unthinkable that we would not notify our allies in NATO that we were pulling out.  However unthinkable, that’s just what happened. Now it appears that two of the largest federal agencies in America are not talking to each other.  This looks a lot like “You’re not pinning this s**t on me.”

Early in PDJT’s administration, the media sometimes promoted the fake news that the world was laughing at America because Trump was President.  That idea was destroyed by the throngs of people who would show up around the globe whenever PDJT went somewhere.  The common people recognized a person who genuinely cared about them.

Are they laughing at America now?  Probably in China.  However, our allies are more likely livid and incensed at the machinations of our government that has put so many people at risk.

Afghanistan is an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions.  The State Department, Defense Department, the NSC and anyone else in a position of leadership within the foreign policy establishment are to blame for this fiasco.  Do not allow any of them to excuse themselves from responsibility for this mess.

Sundance notes:

U.S. Military leadership was wrong in their claims, plans and risk assessments prior to the collapse of Afghanistan.  The U.S. State Department was wrong and inept in their planning to secure the Embassy mission in Kabul for all Americans.  The White House failed to organize, coordinate and manage the draw-down of military action in Afghanistan.  The President made the wrong decisions.  Those in political positions advising the President were inept.

The Biden administration and foreign policy team is weak, ineffective, ideological and functionally flawed.  Everything they do is exactly the opposite of what should be done.

Just like Obama before him, the Biden foreign policy is a joke.

It appears that the rats are leaving a ship they know will not be afloat for very much longer.  Watch for the media outlets like the Washington Post to begin to undercut Biden.  How will his exit be handled?

Biden is having trouble sleeping at the White House.  I would have trouble sleeping too if I knew that I was responsible for all the pain, suffering, violence and death I had unleashed in that country.  And this is only just the beginning.

I think PDJT’s comment in Alabama Saturday evening is appropriate here.

“Everything woke turns to shit.”