A Pitiful, Helpless Giant
“If, when the chips are down, the world’s most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.” President Richard M. Nixon
Sunday, the leader of the most powerful nation in the history of the world gave yet another update on the chaos reigning in Afghanistan. What the country got was an update on the terrible floods in Tennessee, a tropical storm that hit the northeastern United States and a lot of double talk on the strategy for getting stranded American citizens out of Kabul and the neighboring cities.
He wouldn’t commit to the use of troops outside the airport perimeter to escort Americans to the airport. He did state that he had a “plan” but couldn’t disclose how he would use our troops or when and where there are needed. Wait a minute. How stupid, the entire world including CNN knows that the British and the French are using their elite warfighters to rescue their countrymen and our Navy SEALS, Army Special Operators are stuck at the airport.
When Joe gave his remarks, he was standing in front of a portrait of President Theodore Roosevelt, you know, the leader who said, “carry a big stick”. The irony of this feckless President, well into his dotage, with Teddy in the background speaks volumes. The man who led the charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba is rolling in his grave.
Biden said the following confidently, after delivering a Sunday speech on the issue and answering questions from reporters at the White House, “I think, that history is going to record this was the logical, rational, and right decision to make.” Really Joe? Where’s the logic in leaving the Taliban with 600,000 rifles, 2,000 Armored Humvees and 45 Blackhawk helicopters in the control of avowed terrorists?
Joe Biden said our Allies would respect America again. Did he know that the former Prime Minister of the UK, Tony Blair in his first statement since Kabul fell to the Taliban last week, said the decision to withdraw was made "in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending 'the forever wars' as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago.” Former Prime Minister Blair further stated that Britain had a "moral obligation" to stay in Afghanistan until "all those who need to be are evacuated". When has anyone ever heard of a close ally publicly refer to the United States President’s foreign policy as “imbecilic”?
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, “I’ve heard, across the board, deep appreciation and thanks from allies and partners for everything we’ve done to bring allies and partners out of harm’s way.” The initial read out of French President Macron’s call to Biden was scrubbed to eliminate his remarks that we should not be abandoning Afghanistan. Obviously, the call was less than pleasant for Joe. In view of that perhaps you might put the bong down Mr. Secretary.
Meanwhile, the British and the French continue to do whatever it takes to get their citizens out of Afghanistan. A Washington Post reporter, Susannah George was able to escape to the airport and get out thanks to the British. While American troops remain impotent, their only mission to secure the airport, British special forces and French operators continue to make runs into Kabul to retrieve those who need to evacuate, including Americans.
This has exacerbated hard feelings among the allies. It has been reported by several sources that the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne, Major General Christopher Donahue had told his British counterpart, a high-ranking field-grade officer of the British Army's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, to “cease operations beyond the airport perimeter” because his men were “embarrassing the United States military in the absence of similar US military operations.” The British commander firmly rejected the request.
A growing majority of Americans now know for certain that Joe Biden cannot do his job. And the fact that he refuses to acknowledge any screwups whatsoever, just highlights his confused state of mind. In the survey from Rasmussen Reports, a respected polling group, 52% of respondents said they are not confident that Biden is physically or mentally “up to the job of being President of the United States.” 46% said they are confident in Biden. Obviously the 46% must be living in caves with no media at all. 2% evidently had no opinion.
On the six major Sunday morning news shows, Administration figures were dispatched to clean up wreckage of Joe’s credibility. The mess is so great that it made a three aisle clean up in a WalMart look like no big deal. But Biden continued to claim Sunday afternoon that the Taliban was a "rag tag" force and "history will record" that he was right. That thinking and analysis by him is delusionally absurd.
Joe Biden spoke today about the Afghanistan crises but first he had to tout his “Build Back Better” bullschiff and how he’s saved the economy. He went on to announce the heroic efforts of Speaker Pelosi to pass 5 trillion dollars of spending in a House vote. Then he garbled his way through a prepared teleprompter update on Afghanistan and confirmed that the withdrawal will proceed as planned. The August 31st date remains in place to get our troops and citizens out with “contingency plans”, just in case. He claimed our NATO allies are on board. He took no questions from the press. Walked away, again. Reports are that the withdrawal is beginning, yet folks are still having a tough time getting to the airport. His leadership skills prompted former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to label him a coward earlier in the day. She’s right. This diminished excuse for a President has managed to make Neville Chamberlain look like Rambo. The consensus is that there is no way we will be able to get all American citizens out by next Tuesday. Joe has surrendered. He’s a bona fide disgrace to the office he holds.
Confucius said, that “the beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.” One can only hope that America will not be called by the world, “A Pitiful, Helpless Giant”, but based on the latest decision from the President, it doesn’t look like that’s the case. The forces of the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy are on the march.
Well done, Joe.