The inevitable end result of our last 56 years

[George Govus]

Yikes!

I maxed out contributing to Bernie's 2020 campaign. Before the Iowa Caucus. I still support his efforts, especially his recent push for a Climate Conservation Corps. But I have to say, I have wondered about Devine, for years; never in this connection. Hm. You can't spell "Rasputin" without "Putin."

[Douglas Caddy]

From  the Overnight Defense Report from The Hill:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which Biden has tasked with leading the resettlement efforts, has sent 300 personnel to the sites to assist the State Department and others with rigorous vetting of those seeking to make it to the U.S.

Their appointment was welcome news to many frustrated by a lack of communication from the State Department.

“They are still trying to figure out what to do with people across the world basically that have been strung out to the four corners of the earth,” said one source who sat in on a recent call with DHS. “It was clear they were trying to come up with a solution.”

But it’s unclear how long the Afghans will be there.

“We’re concerned about the length of time people will be in these countries. There hasn’t been a real answer to that. We don't want people staying in Qatar for five years,” the source said. 

What about the charters?: What is also unclear is how the U.S will address those who left the country on charter flights to a number of other countries and who are not staying in facilities overseen by the government.

“Wherever had visa-free travel for Afghans to go, these charter flights ended up going. That is a logistical nightmare. Where did these people end up? Where did they go? What are the legal processes to get them into the U.S.?” said the source familiar with the DHS call.

DHS told stakeholders that it planned to use existing immigration pathways for that population — a lengthy and complicated process that advocates fear could leave Afghans in other countries for years on end.

Operation Allies Welcome: Speaking of DHS, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas detailed Friday what’s now being called “Operation Allies Welcome,” the DHS-led effort to continue extracting people from Afghanistan, vetting them and resettle them.

"Our mission is not accomplished until we have safely evacuated all the U.S. citizens who wish to leave Afghanistan, all lawful permanent residents, all individuals who have assisted the United States in Afghanistan," Mayorkas told reporters Friday.

Mayorkas appointed Robert Fenton, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) career professional who briefly led the agency in an acting capacity, as head of the Unified Coordination Group (UCG) to lead the inter-agency effort.

"This initiative requires us to call on the resources, expertise and authorities of every part of the federal government. DHS possesses vast operational expertise and a long record of leadership, bringing different agencies together to execute a single mission," said Mayorkas.

[W. Niederhut]

On 9/3/2021 at 2:07 AM, Benjamin Cole said:

Yeah, Biden will have lost the "Afghan vote" in Nov. 2024. 

I never said I liked the people in the 1/6 scrum. I said they were the marginalized, outcasts, mentally challenged and so on. Which they obviously were, to anyone who does scant primary research on the arrest reports, affidavits charges and so on.

Exclusive: FBI finds scant evidence U.S. Capitol attack was coordinated - sources

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-fbi-finds-scant-evidence-us-capitol-attack-was-coordinated-sources-2021-08-20/

I still do not understand an unorganized mob of less than 600 people could push their way into the US Capitol when the Capitol Police had a force of 2,300 and the DC Metropolitan Police have a force of 3,500, and the phones worked. 

They were waiting for the National Guard to ride cavalry to the rescue?  

I guess the Afghan Army took cues from the Capitol Police....

Ben,

      My impression was that this Kevin McCarthy/Reuters report about the FBI and January 6th never passed the sniff test.

      Today, the Congressional committee investigating January 6th has confirmed that it does, in fact, stink. 🤥

https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/thompson-cheney-statement-mccarthy-s-january-6th-misinformation-campaign

 

     

     

[Benjamin Cole]

5 hours ago, W. Niederhut said:

Ben,

      My impression was that this Kevin McCarthy/Reuters report about the FBI and January 6th never passed the sniff test.

      Today, the Congressional committee investigating January 6th has confirmed that it does, in fact, stink. 🤥

https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/thompson-cheney-statement-mccarthy-s-january-6th-misinformation-campaign

 

     

     

I dunno. I am reading through the arrest reports, affidavits and charges....the primary materials. This scrum in no way threatens the US or your freedoms. Most of these people were (sadly enough) only a menace to themselves.  Like Mr. Buffalo Horns. 

I would like to know how the Donk-controlled Capitol police, with 2,300 officers, could not keep 600 people from entering the building, when they could have called the 3,500 officers of the Metro police for back-up. 

Liz Cheney is going to issue a report? I am on the edge of my seat. 

Let me guess: the Jan. 6 scrum calls for an enlargement of the domestic security state and more surveillance and an even larger global national security state to defend against threats foreign and domestic, which are becoming intertwined. 

Be afraid, be very very afraid, and never question the huge annual outlays for the global security state, and never challenge ever increasing surveillance.

And never-ever challenge the establishment, even in the weakest and most symbolic of ways.

Isn't that where this is headed? 

Add on: You have have stated many times the "M$M" is part of the establishment's bamboozling of the American public, whether on 9/11, or the JFKA, or other important matters. 

My guess is the "M$M" will pretty much embrace whatever the Cheney-1/6 committee produces. Probably op-eds are written and in the can awaiting publication of the dire threats America faces. 

So...the M$M is untrustworthy except when it is? 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2021 by Benjamin Cole
add on

[W. Niederhut]

Ben,

     To clarify, what I said about WaPo in particular, is that they seem to cover the political news well, except in matters pertaining to covert CIA and military ops.

     But, frankly, I don't believe that the January 6th Trump mob attack on Congress was a "Deep State" op of any kind.

     Cui bono?  In what conceivable sense would the "Deep State" have benefited from the January 6th attacks--unless there were people in the "Deep State" who wanted to block the certification of Biden's election?

     Meanwhile, the claim that the FBI has found "scant evidence of coordination" of the January 6th attacks is, apparently, incorrect.  And Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, et.al., are freaking out about an investigation of their January 6th phone records-- even to the extent that they have threatened telecom companies who comply with the request for records.

    

Edited September 5, 2021 by W. Niederhut

[Steve Thomas]

Never in my wildest dreams, did I envision a day where we had to issue tasers to flight stewardesses.

Steve Thomas

[Douglas Caddy]

Why the Taliban could not be defeated

 

 

[David Andrews]

3 hours ago, Douglas Caddy said:

Why the Taliban could not be defeated

 

 

Are the Taliban wearing masks and social distancing?...

[Douglas Caddy]

Wall Street Journal article released today on Biden's decision making on Afghanistan

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-biden-administrations-push-to-exit-afghanistan-11630855499?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

[Benjamin Cole]

7 hours ago, W. Niederhut said:

Ben,

     To clarify, what I said about WaPo in particular, is that they seem to cover the political news well, except in matters pertaining to covert CIA and military ops.

     But, frankly, I don't believe that the January 6th Trump mob attack on Congress was a "Deep State" op of any kind.

     Cui bono?  In what conceivable sense would the "Deep State" have benefited from the January 6th attacks--unless there were people in the "Deep State" who wanted to block the certification of Biden's election?

     Meanwhile, the claim that the FBI has found "scant evidence of coordination" of the January 6th attacks is, apparently, incorrect.  And Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, et.al., are freaking out about an investigation of their January 6th phone records-- even to the extent that they have threatened telecom companies who comply with the request for records.

    

Well, OK, let's see how the "M$M" plays the Jan. 6 investigation report. 

My guess is, very favorably. 

And remember---there will be no "defense counsel" equivalent cross-examining witnesses or challenging evidence.  As you know from the old HSCA, or the 9/11 or WC investigations, unless there is a vigorous examination of witnesses and evidence...well, any version of the truth will do. 

Maybe a couple dope GOP'ers were stupid enough to believe they could have a bunch of lulus storm the Capitol and take over the US government. Matt Gaetz might actually be that stupid, from outward appearances. 

But seriously, these people occupying the Capitol on Jan. 6...well, they need help, not imprisonment. Every one of the arrest files I have read indicates a very marginalized, deluded and mentally challenged person.  Seriously, these people text and photo their location inside the Capitol, thus affirming and documenting their participation in a crime, but can barely spell while doing so. 

The word "certain" is spelled as "sertan."  That is, at least, phonetic. Other texts were less precise in spelling and grammar.  

Again, many occupiers texted they must have been allowed to enter the building. It is odd how defenses just melted away. 

The Trumpers ran the Capitol police?  Not likely, they report to House leadership, and Amy Klobuchar. 

BTW, many on this forum believe the CIA had plants inside the Dallas Police Department. Maybe so.

Very likely, the CIA had many, many plants in the Capitol police department. What better police department on earth to heavily infiltrate and learn of compromising details or other intel on Congresspeople? 

The WaPo has become establishment pulp, in political reporting or otherwise. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Benjamin Cole
typo

[Benjamin Cole]

8 hours ago, W. Niederhut said:

Ben,

     To clarify, what I said about WaPo in particular, is that they seem to cover the political news well, except in matters pertaining to covert CIA and military ops.

     But, frankly, I don't believe that the January 6th Trump mob attack on Congress was a "Deep State" op of any kind.

     Cui bono?  In what conceivable sense would the "Deep State" have benefited from the January 6th attacks--unless there were people in the "Deep State" who wanted to block the certification of Biden's election?

     Meanwhile, the claim that the FBI has found "scant evidence of coordination" of the January 6th attacks is, apparently, incorrect.  And Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, et.al., are freaking out about an investigation of their January 6th phone records-- even to the extent that they have threatened telecom companies who comply with the request for records.

    

Add on (sorry):

Let me riddle you this: Liz Cheney is not only an old Washington hand, but born and bred to Deep State politics (and now a WaPo heroine).

Do you think that before Liz Cheney assented to be on the Jan. 6 committee, she did not first see and approve of the committee report's pending abstract, introduction and conclusions?

 

[W. Niederhut]

1 hour ago, Benjamin Cole said:

Add on (sorry):

Let me riddle you this: Liz Cheney is not only an old Washington hand, but born and bred to Deep State politics (and now a WaPo heroine).

Do you think that before Liz Cheney assented to be on the Jan. 6 committee, she did not first see and approve of the committee report's pending abstract, introduction and conclusions?

 

Ben,

         I've never been a Cheney fan, far from it, but my impression is that Liz Cheney has been appropriately appalled by the conduct of some of her Republican colleagues in Congress-- Kevin McCarthy, Mo Brooks, Jim Jordan, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, et.al.-- who endorsed Trump's Big Lie about election fraud and incited mob violence on January 6th.  She, reportedly, scolded Jim Jordan in the Capitol during the January 6th attacks for his role in the inciting the insurrection.

        The fact that Liz is a Cheney doesn't mean that everything she does is part of a Deep State/Halliburton plot.

        In this case, she's, apparently, standing up for the rule of law-- and being anathematized by the Trump GOP for doing so.

      

[Benjamin Cole]

8 hours ago, W. Niederhut said:

Ben,

         I've never been a Cheney fan, far from it, but my impression is that Liz Cheney has been appropriately appalled by the conduct of some of her Republican colleagues in Congress-- Kevin McCarthy, Mo Brooks, Jim Jordan, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, et.al.-- who endorsed Trump's Big Lie about election fraud and incited mob violence on January 6th.  She, reportedly, scolded Jim Jordan in the Capitol during the January 6th attacks for his role in the inciting the insurrection.

        The fact that Liz is a Cheney doesn't mean that everything she does is part of a Deep State/Halliburton plot.

        In this case, she's, apparently, standing up for the rule of law-- and being anathematized by the Trump GOP for doing so.

      

OK, we do not agree on this particular event, and that's fine. 

Cheney and "rule of law" on the same page? Well....

My take is Liz Cheney loathes, detests and reviles Trumpers most of all for...not their domestic politics, but their "isolationist" foreign policy and the wrecking the establishment-Bush wing of the GOP. 

Remember Jeb! Bush getting 2% of the 2016 Florida primary vote against the talk-show host Trump? Jeb!'s home state. Jeb! Trump completely crushed the party establishment. 

My take on US politics these days is exhausted resignation, so not much disappointment enters my vocabulary. 

But if I can rise to the occasion, I am disappointed that the first US political movement to challenge to national security state-foreign policy Deep State prerogatives in 50 years...is the regrettable Trumpers. 

Cheney strikes me as a deep-state apparatchik 24/7. The 1/6 scrum will necessitate for a larger surveillance state and police state, and a defeat of the Trumpers. 

BTW, I unabashedly give Biden credit for pulling out of Afghanie. It may even be the military peevishly let matters go to pot after Biden stuck with his decision. Booby-trapped Biden, so to speak.

Good for Biden. 

 

PS Interesting question: Obviously Liz Cheney learned politics at her daddy's knee.

You say Dick Cheney was part of the plot to demolish the WTC towers on 9/11, probably the most heinous domestic act by the US government in history.

Do you think Dick Cheney ever educated his daughter as to the necessity that day of downing the WTC towers, so that invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan could follow? Do you suppose being so well-positioned, Liz Cheney figured it out? 

Is she is aware of the truth on 9/11...what do you make of her? Would you believe what she says about 1/6? 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Benjamin Cole
new idea

[Benjamin Cole]

2 hours ago, W. Niederhut said:

Ben,

         I've never been a Cheney fan, far from it, but my impression is that Liz Cheney has been appropriately appalled by the conduct of some of her Republican colleagues in Congress-- Kevin McCarthy, Mo Brooks, Jim Jordan, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, et.al.-- who endorsed Trump's Big Lie about election fraud and incited mob violence on January 6th.  She, reportedly, scolded Jim Jordan in the Capitol during the January 6th attacks for his role in the inciting the insurrection.

        The fact that Liz is a Cheney doesn't mean that everything she does is part of a Deep State/Halliburton plot.

        In this case, she's, apparently, standing up for the rule of law-- and being anathematized by the Trump GOP for doing so.

      

House Democrats, Working With Liz Cheney, Restrict Trump’s Planned Withdrawal of Troops From Afghanistan and Germany

The bipartisan commitment to using Russia for endless war and imperialism remains vibrant.

Glenn Greenwald

July 2 2020, 11:38 p.m.

 

[Douglas Caddy]

U.S. Citizens and Afghans Wait for Evacuation Flights From Country’s North

The Taliban have left hundreds of people stranded in Afghanistan awaiting approval for departure.

 

In this satellite image taken on Friday, planes can be seen near the main terminal of the airport in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.Credit...Maxar Technologies/Reuters

By Melissa Eddy and Thomas Gibbons-Neff

Sept. 5, 2021

 

The New York Times

Around 1,000 people, including dozens of American citizens and Afghans holding visas to the United States or other countries, remained stuck in Afghanistan for the fifth day on Sunday as they awaited clearance for the departure from the Taliban. The holdup reflects the challenges of foreign governments working with the group, which has yet to form a government.

Negotiations to allow the planes to depart, involving officials of the Taliban, the United States and Qatar, have dragged on for days, leaving the evacuees in an increasingly precarious limbo, according to representatives of organizations trying to get them to safety.T

 

The Biden administration has faced criticism for leaving Americans and Afghan allies behind after the final troops left on Aug. 30.

The confusion surrounding the departure of the chartered planes from Mazar reflects the chaos in Afghanistan resulting from the departure of the United States and its Western allies and fears that the Taliban will fail to come good on their promises to respect human rights and not persecute Afghans who cooperated with the American-backed government.

“The reason the Taliban wants to prevent these people from leaving is likely because they intend to punish them for their cooperation with the U.S.,” said Mick Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official who has been working with the group Task Force Dunkirk to help evacuate Afghans from the country. If the Taliban really are using people as a bargaining chip, Mr. Mulroy said, that “is unacceptable.”

Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested during an interview on Fox News Sunday that the Taliban were preventing six airplanes from leaving Afghanistan, effectively holding Americans hostage.

“State has cleared these flights, and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport,” Mr. McCaul said, adding that he believed the problem was “turning into a hostage situation.”

Mr. McCaul said the Taliban wanted “something in exchange” for approving takeoff of the planes. He said he believed they were seeking “full recognition from the United States of America.”