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Monday, August 30, 2021

WaPo: U.S. Had Option to Control Kabul, Chose to Let It Go

From the story: In a hastily arranged in-person meeting, senior U.S. military leaders in Doha — including McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command — spoke with Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the Taliban’s political wing. “We have a problem,” Baradar said, according to the U.S. official. “We have two options to deal with it: You [the United States military] take responsibility for securing Kabul or you have to allow us to do it.” Later: On the spot, an understanding was reached, according to two other U.S. officials: The United States could have the airport until Aug. 31. But the Taliban would control the city (Washington Post). From Marc Thiessen: Taliban offered to stay out of Kabul and let US forces secure the city. We told them we only needed the airport. We could have controlled the airport and Kabul and evacuated everyone but chose not to. The incompetence is stunning (Twitter). From Mark Hemingway Good Grief. We need heads on a platter for this and so many other mistakes (Twitter). Meanwhile, 84 percent of Americans say we should stay until all U.S. citizens are evacuated. And 71 percent say we should stay until all Afghans who helped the United States are evacuated. And this is a shockingly bipartisan opinion. And one Biden appears ready to ignore. Because he knows better.. (ABC News).

Report Claims U.S. Drone Strike on ISIS Also Killed Family with Children

Possibly as many as six children (CNN). U.S. Central Command said, near the close of a statement last night, “It is unclear what may have happened, and we are investigating further” (Central Command).

Americans and Afghans Told Military is Leaving and U.S. Gave Names and Passport Info to Taliban

Students in Afghanistan who thought they were on a bus to be evacuated were told to head home. From the story: The Taliban posted a picture of themselves on social media standing at the entrance of a university building with an ominous message, saying they were where America trained infidel “wolves” to corrupt the minds of Muslims. The photograph was widely shared among Afghans and sent students and alumni into hiding. They had reason to be scared. In 2016, the Taliban attacked the campus with explosives and guns in a terrorist assault that lasted 10 hours and killed 15 people, including seven students (New York Times). From another story: U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport, a choice that’s prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials. The move, detailed to POLITICO by three U.S. and congressional officials, was designed to expedite the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan as chaos erupted in Afghanistan’s capital city last week after the Taliban seized control of the country. It also came as the Biden administration has been relying on the Taliban for security outside the airport (Politico). From Noah Rothman: I think there is a tonal disconnect. We’ve been attacked and humiliated and our partners and friends abused. I don’t think the note to strike on those occasions is sadness. It’s laconic rage (Noah Rothman). Meanwhile, a look at the arsenal left behind to help the Taliban gain power: From high-end night vision goggles to black hawk helicopters, the United States left terrorists with fighting equipment they only dreamed of (Daily Mail).

Families of Slain Marines Angry and Sad as Bodies Return Home

One father said “I’m really disappointed in the way that the president has handled this, even more so the way the military has handled it. The commanders on the ground should have recognized this threat and addressed it” (Reuters). Another father said “Be afraid of our leadership, or lack thereof. Pray every day for the soldiers that are putting their lives at risk and doing what they love, which is protecting all of us. I think they’re the only ones that we can honestly say have our backs” (New York Post). A mother said Biden voters “just killed my son” (New York Post). A look at the marines killed (WSJ). Biden was caught checking his watch during the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base (Daily Wire).

Biden Refuses to Answer Questions on Afghanistan

When discussing Hurricane Ida, he said “I’m not supposed to be taking questions but go ahead.” The reporter began with an Afghanistan question and Biden said “No, I’m not gonna answer Afghanistan now” then turned and walked away. The video (Twitter). The reporter who asked the question was Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs (Twitter).

Hurricane Ida Knocks Out Power to All of New Orleans

A Cat 4 when it reached land (Fox News). From WAPT News: Confirmed: the main transmission tower that feeds New Orleans has collapsed into the Mississippi River (Twitter). More on the destruction (Fox News).

Obama’s Secretary of Education Compares Anti-Maskers to Suicide Bombers

Arne Ducan said “noticed how strikingly similar both the mindsets and actions are between the suicide bombers at Kabul’s airport, and the anti-mask and anti-vax people here. They both blow themselves up, inflict harm on those around them, and are convinced they are fighting for freedom” (Daily Caller). From Seth Mandel: Current and former cabinet secretaries have every right to have their opinions and express them, but it would probably be better for American governance if ppl at that level did not reveal themselves to be off the deep end (Twitter). Meanwhile, the majority of voters now say lockdowns did more harm than good (Washington Examiner).

California Governor Admits He Did Much to Lead to the Recall Effort

From the story: He listed a number of his recent initiatives, such as using billions of dollars of federal relief money in the state budget and signing a bill to expand health care to undocumented workers. “If I do fall short, I’ll regret every damn one of those decisions. And I don’t want to have any regrets for putting everything out there and doing . . . what I think is right and what I think is in the best interest of California.” The Democratic governor’s comments come after he previously told the Sacramento Bee earlier this month that he wouldn’t regret a “damn thing” if he were to be recalled (National Review). Meanwhile, David Harsanyi looks at the most likely replacement should the recall succeed, Larry Elder (National Review). Hollywood is coming to Newsom’s rescue (Fox Business). A look at the race and why it is so tight (National Review).

Over 3000 Pediatricians and Medical Professionals Sue Biden Over Transgender Mandate

From the story: Pediatricians and other health care workers are suing the Biden administration over a mandate tied to health care which would, according to the suit, require medical professionals to provide gender-related services and surgeries despite objections, medical or otherwise. Objections, even to treating children, would be considered “discrimination,” pursuant to Biden’s reinterpretation of sex to include sexual orientation and “gender identity.”

Daily Wire

10.

College Requires All Students be Vaccinated AND Double Masked

Amherst College, out of Massachusetts, is also requiring not one but TWO covid tests upon arrival, and more testing beyond that, along with other frightened-out-of-their-minds requirements (Amherst Student). More (Townhall).