Last night, I posted my initial thoughts and feelings about the bombing in Afghanistan that has now cost at least 13 US servicemembers their lives. That doesn’t count the other lives lost in the suicide bombing or those who were injured. This morning, I am no less angry and hurt no less for those families who lost their loved ones. As I learn more about what happened, as I watch once again Biden’s speech afterwards, that anger continues to burn hot. I’m sure the situation over there could be worse, but it is difficult to think how right now.
I love this country and I will defend it with all I have. For all its faults, it is still the best place to live. But we are on a slippery slope right now, one where fear over Covid, where leaders who love to rule by executive order are eating away at our rights. Worse, we have a president who presents a weak face to the world and that scares me shitless.
We lost people yesterday in a cowardly suicide attack. We should have seen emotion from the Commander-in-Chief. We should have seen anger. Instead, we saw a man who looked like he was straining to see the teleprompter and who could barely be bothered to raise his voice.
Now I’m seeing reports that we have been contacting the Taliban and letting them know not only when we have buses heading to the airport but who is on those buses. I’ve seen reports this morning that the Administration turned over the names of not only Americans in Afghanistan who need to be evacuated but also Afghans who worked with our forces. If true, we just handed over a kill list to the Taliban.
And the Administration said it is to help get these people safely to the airport.
Right now, GMA is reporting that Biden has instructed his military leaders to “develop” plans to strike ISIS assets, etc., but that we need to know where they are.
I’m sorry, but why weren’t these plans already in place? It’s called being prepared. And why don’t we know where they are? Isn’t that what our intelligence services are for?
As I wrote last night, I’m a military mom. I come from a family that has always stepped up and served this country. Sitting here writing this post, I can look across the room and see my great-great-grandfather’s discharge as well as a memorial of his service in the Union Army during the Civil War. Another great-great also served, as did his brothers. In a previous generation, an ancestor served in the War of 1812. His father served in the Revolutionary War. I am qualified for the DAR through various lines of my ancestry.
Since the Civil War, men in the family have served in every–EVERY–war this country has fought. They stepped up and volunteered. We were lucky. Most came home. But not all and not all of those who did came home whole. But that was a sacrifice they were willing to make, as were their families, to help protect this great country of ours.
I feel sure the 13 service members who died in the bombing felt the same way. It is a sin they died because they were caught in a situation that never should have happened. The so-called plan to leave Afghanistan was anything but a plan–unless you want to call it a plan for failure.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope Biden somehow manages to pull a rabbit out of his hat and gets our fellow Americans and their dependents, our allies and those who assisted our mission in Afghanistan out of there safely. But with only a few days left before the Taliban’s deadline dawns, I fear that is a pipedream.
So I will repeat what I wrote last night.
My thoughts and prayers are with those 12 families (now 13) tonight as well as with the families of those injured and those still left in Afghanistan. God protect them and watch over them.
And God help this country.
And I leave you with this from Gary Sinise.
In honor of the lives lost today. pic.twitter.com/RGlBeSlw7z
— Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) August 27, 2021
Featured Image: USA Flags on a half staff. Honoring Victims. Washington monument by Toshe. Licensed via Adobe Stock.
I know it won’t help, and might actually make it worse– but anyone who has lost a family member to dementia knows Biden is…not entirely there, anymore, at best.
Otherwise, I’m trying not to think or talk too much on the subject, because my reactions will not be productive.
The sheer betrayal is simply unspeakable.
I know re: the dementia or similar ailment. I’ve watched friends and loved ones suffer through it. I see too many of the same symptoms shown by Biden. His comment about being given a list (ie, being told what to do) is worrisome because it means he didn’t see the problem with 1) having been given such a list and 2) letting the world know about it. I have no doubt Psaki or someone else will try to wave it off as he was trying to joke, but was he? Really?
I’m having to be very careful about what I say right now. It would be too easy to fall back into just cussing, which is what I’m doing in private. As you said, the sheer betrayal is unspeakable.
Honestly, I remind myself of that *because* it helps keep my mind in a less inherently sinful place. Besides moral aspects, it can blind you to productive responses.
I…do not know what a productive response would look like, but I know we have to keep our eyes open.
I’ve heard that the vaccine has a lot of brain bleeds associated with it.
I’ve also heard that masking combined with heavy exercise can thicken the blood, and cause strokes.
His dementia may have meant that he could no longer safeguard his health, and he may have suffered a bunch of strokes as a result of being a PR flack for Covid alarmism.
I don’t consider that entirely mitigating, because it is looking more and more like he was a vile person when he had most of his mental capacity.
Take Care.
You too.
Yeah, I have at most zero ideas of how to productively address this.
Though, flags at half mast mean ‘this facility is in American hands, and we are mourning’.
Upside down is ‘this facility has been captured by enemies, who are pretending to be Americans, and we are getting the word out by tricking them.’