Who are the Taliban?
Posted By: earlybird, 8/25/2021 3:42:11 PM
The Taliban were removed from power in Afghanistan by US-led forces in 2001, but the group has seized control of the country once again following a rapid offensive. The capital, Kabul, was the last major city to fall to the offensive that began months ago but accelerated as the hardline Islamists gained control of territories. The group entered direct talks with the US back in 2018, and in February 2020 the two sides struck a peace deal that committed the US to withdrawal and the Taliban to preventing attacks on US forces. Other promises included not allowing al-Qaeda or other militants to operate in areas it controlled and proceeding with national peace
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earlybird"
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the Biden administration’s latest moratorium on evictions, ending a political and legal dispute during a public health crisis in which the administration’s shifting positions had subjected it to criticism from adversaries and allies alike.
The court issued an eight-page majority opinion, an unusual move (snip)
The decision puts hundreds of thousands of tenants at risk of losing shelter, while the administration struggles to speed the flow of billions of dollars in federal funding to people who are behind in rent because of the coronavirus pandemic(snip)Only about $5.1 billion of the $46.5 billion in aid had been disbursed by the end of July,
Does America Still Work?
11 replies
For nearly two years, Americans have engaged in a great woke experiment of cannibalizing themselves. American civilization has invested massive labor, capital, and time in an effort constantly to flagellate itself for not being perfect.
Yet neither America’s resilience nor its resources are infinite. We are now beginning to see the consequences of what happens when premodern tribalism absorbs Americans.
There are concrete consequences when ideology governs policy or when we take for granted the basics of life to pursue its trappings.
Who cares whether the blow-dried media is woke if it cannot report the truth and keep politicians honest?
Multiple U.S. troops were killed by the bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday.
“We can confirm that a number of U.S. service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
Multiple others are being treated for wounds, he added.
“We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack,” Kirby said. “our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured.”
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Housing and Community Development did not properly distribute federal relief funds meant to help homeless residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mismanagement was so prolonged that local organizations might lose the money because of missed deadlines, auditors said Tuesday.
After receiving $316 million under the federal CARES Act to reduce the effect of COVID-19 on unhoused people, the department “did not take critical steps to ensure those funds promptly benefited that population,” (snip)
The department was in charge of distributing the funds to local groups that collaborate on homeless services and prevention under the so-called continuum of care. It took so long to finalize contracts
For the past four days, Nangyalai, a 42-year-old minicab driver from south London, has been queueing with his wife and 11-month-old baby outside the Baron hotel on the edge of Kabul airport, trying to get close enough to the entrance gate to show guards his British passport.
There is a sign by the gate stating “British passport holders only”. Inside the hotel, officials are working to grant evacuation visas for thousands of UK nationals and Afghan citizens who have worked for British organisations. Diplomatic staff say they are “processing hundreds every hour”, but there is a growing sense of despair among the crowds who have been waiting outside since the start
U.S. troops have not rescued any Americans in Afghanistan outside of Kabul, though they have the capability to do so, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Only three rescue missions have been conducted by American soldiers since the Taliban took over the country, according to military officials. But all three took place within Kabul, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.
“Could it be done outside Kabul, if needed? We have the capability,” he said.
“I’m not suggesting that it would be well outside of Kabul. I’m not suggesting that it would be throughout the whole countryside,” he added later. “When I said ‘outside Kabul,’ I’m talking about relatively close by.
The U.S. and U.K. officials are warning American and British citizens to leave the vicinity of the Kabul airport immediately. [BBC Alert Here – and – State Dept. Alert Here].
The State Department warning reads:
“Because of security threats outside the gates of 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 (Snip)
U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately.” (link)
Who are the Taliban?
3 replies
The Taliban were removed from power in Afghanistan by US-led forces in 2001, but the group has seized control of the country once again following a rapid offensive.
The capital, Kabul, was the last major city to fall to the offensive that began months ago but accelerated as the hardline Islamists gained control of territories.
The group entered direct talks with the US back in 2018, and in February 2020 the two sides struck a peace deal that committed the US to withdrawal and the Taliban to preventing attacks on US forces. Other promises included not allowing al-Qaeda or other militants to operate in areas it controlled and proceeding with national peace
About only 5 percent of the people the United States has evacuated from Afghanistan are Americans seeking safe passage home.
More than 82,300 have been airlifted from Kabul since the government’s collapse nearly two weeks ago, but the Pentagon says that, as of Wednesday, only 4,400 Americans were rescued in those evacuation operations.(tweet) (snip)The State Department also confirmed that a majority of the people whisked away on flights from Kabul are not U.S. citizens.
Hey, Biden Voters!
22 replies
Damn you all.
You’re American citizens, with the right to vote in presidential elections.
For four years, we had a president who, over the course of a single term, managed to undo a great deal of the mischief wrought, and a great many of the mistakes made, by his recent predecessors. Trump revived America’s economy, shored up Americans’ individual liberties, forged several remarkable peace agreements, and greatly strengthened our international position—thus firmly checking the ambitions of our powerful adversaries.
But, Biden voters, he had a personality that rubbed you the wrong way. He wrote nasty tweets. In the language of TV production, he was too “hot.” You wanted “cool.”
Protector of Strangers
4 replies
Theoxeny is a theme in Greek mythology in which mortals demonstrate their virtue by extending hospitality to a complete stranger, usually one who is humble like a beggar or a poor traveler. The stranger turns out to be a deity in disguise. The man who is a generous host, thus displaying his piety, is rewarded, (snip)In the past week, all corners of the ruling class have demanded that America import as many Afghans as possible. Granted, none of the people demanding the importation of these Neolithic barbarians plans to house them in his home. It is not about actually helping the people they claim to love.
(Video) Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on Tuesday said the company believes a COVID-19 vaccine-resistant variant will likely one day emerge, though the company has a system in place to turn around a variant-specific jab within some three months.
"Every time that the variant appears in the world, our scientists are getting their hands around it," Bourla told Fox News’ "America’s Newsroom." "They are researching to see if this variant can escape the protection of our vaccine. We haven’t identified any yet but we believe that it is likely that one day, one of them will emerge."
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Biden Vows to ‘Hunt Down’ Terrorists
Behind Kabul Bombings, Says Evacuation
Will Continue 54 replies
Behind Kabul Bombings, Says Evacuation
Will Continue 54 replies
During an address to the nation Thursday evening, President Biden vowed to “hunt down” the terrorists behind the bombings at the Kabul airport and said the U.S. military will continue to evacuate American citizens and allies despite the disruption.
Biden spoke hours after two bombs were detonated outside the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul. One suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device at the airport’s central Abbey gate, killing at least twelve American troops and wounding 15 others. A second bomber detonated his device outside the Baron Hotel, near the airport’s perimeter. It remains unclear whether any Americans were killed in that blast.
Seven US Capitol Police officers are suing former President Donald Trump, Stop the Steal rally organizers and members of far-right extremist groups, accusing them of spreading lies, using White supremacist sentiments to attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, and ultimately bearing responsibility for the riot that injured more than 140 officers on January 6.
"Plaintiffs and their fellow law enforcement officers risked their lives to defend the Capitol from a violent, mass attack — an attack provoked, aided, and joined by Defendants in an unlawful effort to use force, intimidation, and threats to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 Presidential election," says the lawsuit
One of the most effective ways for the MSM to shut down an inquiry into misconduct is to say it is all a conspiracy theory. Besides avoiding an unwanted discussion, the charge also invites scrutiny of the "theorist" instead of the issue itself. Notice how quickly some even start off saying something like "I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but..." Expecting their reaction, we have become almost trained to do this.
But are there really no big conspiracies?
It has been claimed that the phrase "conspiracy theory" was invented by the government to discourage the questioning of official explanations for important events, especially the JFK assassination.
Four U.S. Marines were killed and three were wounded in an explosion at the Kabul airport Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby later on Thursday confirmed "a number of U.S. service members were killed" in the airport attack, though he did not provide a number on the casualties.
"A number of others are being treated for wounds. We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack," Kirby said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured."
The U.S. ambassador
In a move no one can grasp, U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan allies, believing the Taliban would allow them to enter the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport. Lawmakers and military officials are outraged. The insane move was designed to expedite the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Kabul by the August 31 deadline. It also came as the Biden administration began relying on the Taliban for security outside the airport. ISIS-K has since set up forces around the soon-to-be-renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Wednesday that President Joe Biden still intends to campaign for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in the Sep. 14 California recall election, despite the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. “I can confirm, the president does still plan to go and campaign for Governor Newsom in California … that is still certainly his plan,” Psaki said. Psaki added that she did not have any particular dates or details about Biden’s plans to travel to, and campaign in, California.
The top Republicans on the House Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees announced in a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday they plan to investigate his withdrawal from Afghanistan, and his administration should preserve all records on the issue.
Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes (CA); Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (AL); and Michael McCaul (TX) sent a letter to Biden.
Washington—President Biden’s German shepherd Major attacked many more people than the White House has disclosed, according to newly released emails.
The documents indicate that Major bit members of the Secret Service eight days in a row in early March—though only one such incident was publicly acknowledged. At least one White House visitor also was bitten in early March, according to the emails, which were released Thursday by the conservative transparency group Judicial Watch, which slammed the “cover-up” of the incidents.(Snip)A Secret Service employee whose name was redacted emailed three colleagues on March 8: “At the current rate an Agent or Officer has been bitten every day
Several GOP congressmen and congressional candidates are calling for President Biden to either be impeached or resign from office after the deadly attack on Harmid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan.
"If President Trump can be impeached over a phone call, then the time has come to IMPEACH Biden for gross negligence in Afghanistan," said Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.
"Americans deserve better. We deserve better than someone who willfully ignores the worst crisis in decades." In another tweet, he added: "There will be time for investigations and assigning blame later, but we do need a new Commander-in-Chief
Australia starts building 1000 bed concentration
camp for COVID ‘regional
quarantine facility’ 23 replies
camp for COVID ‘regional
quarantine facility’ 23 replies
Australia is planning ahead for mass detentions of people in the name of suppressing COVID. A thousand bed facility that won’t be ready until the end of the year is being constructed about a hundred miles inland from Brisbane, in Queensland Australia. The left-wing Labor Party premier of Queensland celebrates the news: BREAKING: A dedicated regional quarantine facility will be built at Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba. As we contend with the dangerous Delta variant, we need fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities. #covid19
Officer who shot Ashli Babbitt says he
was 'prepared to do the same thing'
to protect Trump 22 replies
was 'prepared to do the same thing'
to protect Trump 22 replies
The Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6 defended himself against criticism from former President Donald Trump and others who claim he should not have used lethal force on the 35-year-old Air Force veteran.In his first public interview since the Capitol riot, Lt. Michael Byrd said it was "disheartening" that Trump, in particular, said Babbitt was "murdered," adding he would take the same actions if he was in charge of protecting the former president.
At least 10 US service members have been killed and another three injured in two suicide bombing attacks outside Kabul airport Thursday, according to US officials. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed earlier that US troops had been killed but did not disclose the number. “A number of US service members were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport. A number of others are being treated for wounds. We also know that a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack,” he said. Initial estimates vary, but an Afghan health official told the New York Times that at least 40 people had been killed and 120 injured.
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Article dated August 19, 2021, posted with Staff permission
History, details on leadership, information for the underinformed - that is, most of us.