[Cross-posted via HuffPost]
Over a month ago I wrote here asking whether we had forgotten about our endless Afghan war, it’s failures and continuing chaos. Alas, the Trump White House appears to now be remembering Afghanistan, and possibly headed toward a disastrous conclusion — to ramp it up.
One of Albert Einstein’s best quotes, defining insanity, has become a cliche because it becomes true over and over again: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
To repeat myself, when corruption and resistance bedevils you in a tribal land that has been ungovernable and unconquerable at least since Alexander the Great WHY NOT keep doing more of the same for another 16 years. But few eyebrows rose in Washington when we learned the Pentagon wants 5,000 troops added to the 8,400 we have there now.
Here Come The Russians
Next up for Putin appears to be making trouble for us there, even though the failed Afghan adventures of his Soviet predecessors contributed to their demise. It appears Russia’s boss sees intervention as a piece of his aim to be a global power player. Let him have it. Empires tend to crumble there.
What Are We Fighting For?
No one seriously argues that any of our three main goals in Afghanistan are faring well: Defend the government, fight terrorists and hold land recaptured from the Taliban last year. As a Kentucky sergeant in Afghanistan recently told a reporter, “The Afghans ain’t buyin’ what we’re sellin’.”
Hannity ……, he and his panel quickly thought the Comey firing was a great thing because now Trump would install a new FBI Director who would investigate and bring criminal charges against — wait for it — Hillary Clinton!
eprof, I think that will be the next diversion-from-Russia-investigation bomb to be thrown. think of the headlines, talking heads exploding, photo ops for drumpf saying he told you she was crooked and needed to be in jail. probably send simpering no-regard secessions to cuff her.
bw, yeah, the other strange story of the day was the nyet to any usa photographers in the oval office (aka the russian tearoom) and da to the comrades’ cameras.
kudos to burr and warner for quickly asking comey to closed-door committee tellall next Tuesday.
the hill via msn:
FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday sent a letter to agents and friends after President Trump’s firing of him the day before.
“I have long believed that a President can fire an FBI director for any reason, or for no reason at all,” he wrote, according to CNN. “I’m not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed,” Comey added.
He continued: “I hope you won’t either. It is done, and I will be fine, although I will miss you and the mission deeply.”
Comey added that the FBI should continue “the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.”
He described the FBI ideal as a “rock” for the American people.
“It is very hard to leave a group of people who are committed only to doing the right thing. What makes leaving the FBI hard is the nature and quality of its people, who together make it that rock for America,” he said.
intriguing tidbit in wapo:
Rosenstein threatened to resign after the narrative emerging from the White House on Tuesday evening cast him as a prime mover of the decision to fire Comey and that the president acted only on his recommendation, said the person close to the White House, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
sooo… we almost had a near replay of Nixon sat. night massacre with more than one head rolling.
the last line of the story really sums it up:
“Just turn the lights off,” Spicer ordered. “Turn the lights off. We’ll take care of this.”
comey’s comment re fbi “committed only to doing the right thing” reminded me of Janet’s life motto which also became the title of the book by Anderson
Janet Reno: Doing the Right Thing
The bush war failed to make him great, as I expect the drumpf war will fail to make him great either. It is hard to believe that twice in my life we have real failures that can kill our America. The first was so different from this, Nixon was as anti-Communist as anyone of that era. The loon though, is close to a being a Russian agent, and there are real Russian agents in his clique. After his meeting with the head of the Russian spies in the U.S. yesterday, and only Russian spies allowed to photograph the event there has to be serious consideration that he is actively trying to normalize the Soviet Union to the Union of States in America.
Published on May 11, 2017
James Comey thought the breaking news story about his firing was a prank. Made ya look (for a new job)!
We can’t keep sending folks to fight for nothing. So many ruined and lost lives. And for what?
I know human life means nothing to the Gooperz in Congress, but if they want to save tax dollars, stop fighting unwinable wars. Talk about a money pit.
Trumpco is unraveling. How long before Gerald Ford, er, I mean Pence moves up?
Really, when I read the story about Kissinger being at the WH yesterday, I thought it was a blurb referring to Nixon, at first. I was too young to understand Watergate as it was happening. Is this the same vibe in the nation as back then? Worse?
BB – Carter Page? Jared? Does JAMIE need to start a list so we can guess who is working for Puty, win-place-and-show?
Back with Trumplestilskin upped the ante on this, I went looking for a map that described some of the fall out from WW II. Found one for the territory claimed by the Kurds. With the original Bush invasion I remember talking about the realignment of the whole territory by tribal interests and how Iraq needed to be broken up into three sections. Unfortunately, we bugged out without getting that done and now the area is trying to realign itself while various powers pull in the directions of self interest.
Look most particularly at the Russia/Georgia Border. The Turk/Kurdistan argument. The Section of Syria claimed by the Kurds and poor Armenia with its own holocaust. Then there is Azerbaijan with its strongman in Aliyev.
If you want to get really depressed, start with this Wiki on Azerbaijan. Down at the bottom of the articles are links to more articles on all of these geographic regions.
I’m going back to betting on horses.
It is hard to believe that twice in my life we have real failures that can kill our America.
BB… and just think… the people who voted for both W and Trump are still here. It will happen again as long as Fox News is around to misinform them and get them frothing at the mouth.
A glorious morning to you as the full moon gives way to the sun. I enjoy watching the WH squirrels during the live broadcast from the WH lawn. Running and chasing each other from ground to trees. Then I remembered….the huckster’s love of squirrel! Does his daughter have the same penchant for the tasty morsels? She is in squirrel heaven in the WH.
How about ‘Melissa” giving a presser from the bushes? Defecating in the bushes since the door to the WH bathroom was locked? Great communicators. We are in good hands…sound leaders. We are in squirrel heaven.
I liked this one even more than I liked colbert’s take…. so sweet the sound, truth in humor. takes down bullies better than broomsticks and bullets do.
Published on May 10, 2017
President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey in the midst of the bureau’s investigation into the White House’s ties to Russia.
According to my Google search they have 7,269 current news articles on the Comey firing. That’s gotta be some kind of record.
craig, re afghan affairs, there was this too to consider and ponder… an excerpt from a February story by npr
Why Is Russia Helping Anti-U.S. Insurgents In Afghanistan?
The top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, stopped short of detailing everything the U.S. knows about the Russian return to Afghanistan in an appearance before a Senate panel last week. But he did confirm some lawmakers’ accounts of what U.S. intelligence has established about the relationship.
“If Russia is cozying up to the Taliban — and that’s a kind word — if they are giving equipment that we have some evidence that the Taliban is getting … and other things that we can’t mention in this unclassified setting? And the Taliban is also associated with al-Qaida? Therefore Russia indirectly is helping al-Qaida in Afghanistan,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
“Your logic is absolutely sound, sir,” Nicholson said.
Terrorist groups use the Afghan Taliban insurgency as a “medium” in which to operate, Nicholson said, as al-Qaida did before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S.
The disclosures about Russia’s operations in Afghanistan, which Nicholson said are increasing after they resumed last year, could complicate any effort by President Trump to work more closely with Moscow on fighting terrorism.
[….]
Russian President Vladimir Putin could be serious about expanding Russian influence in Asia Minor. He could be hedging against the potential wavering of current international support for Afghanistan. Or he could be making mischief simply to win concessions elsewhere by Europe or the United States.
There’s some evidence that he may be prepared to turn up the heat: The German newspaper Die Zeit reported that Russia is recruiting mercenaries to fight abroad. Russian memories about sending regular troops to Afghanistan might still be too raw after the Soviet Union’s disastrous 1980 invasion, as the German paper wrote. So sending mercenaries could enable Putin to put de facto forces on the ground there with a lower public profile.
Jamie,
I think it’s only reasonable that the Kurds be granted rights of residence in Wales.
Disapproval Gap Nears Record High
The recent trump popularity bubble has burst.
https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2456
IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING MESSAGE
You will notice this is a skinny version of our blog, meaning that a lot of features are temporarily unavailable because I’ve had to deactivate all of our plugins in order to research which one has been causing our intermittent delays. Which is a process of activating them one at a time and then test page building speed. This might take me a couple of days, it’s a tedious process. On the plus side, the site should be much faster, which is the first test. If it isn’t then we’ll know it’s not a plugin problem.
HOUSEKEEPING UPDATE
Ok, first I’m trying a less drastic fix for our speed issues. Found a way to expand an important memory setting. All plugins now re-activated. Everyone can help by letting me know if you experience slow page builds (all pages should open in 5 seconds or less). Thanks.
Quick as a fox.
Thanks Pogo, so far so good. We’re clocking an average 3.9 seconds to open pages and post comments, right where we want to be.
There is no constitutional crisis. The transition will be smooth. President pence will immediately purge the cabinet and advisors except for Mattis and devos. Expect a Secretary of the Interior named huckster, or something. The other appointees will all be white, male evangelicals with deep pockets . . . deep, deep pockets, and who have access to other people’s deep deep pockets.
Flatus
Since the Russians want to control Georgia, the Kurds should probably stay out of Atlanta.
The COMEY firing sure did take the focus offa healthcare, didn’t it?
Stolen Funny from David Mack of Buzzfeed
Sean Spicer hiding amid the Bushes
Craig… the page is loading soooooo much better…. thanks!
So… should we make bets on when Trump’s head will explode… 🙂
thanks for the report RR. If anyone experiences delays try to give me a countdown on how many seconds, or especially if you get an error page. And check to see if other sites are at full speed.
Craig
Running much faster and there isn’t the lag and double posting warning of pictures. Much much better.
So many conflicting stories about Comey from the Whitehouse and all from one source the Pussy Grabber himself.
If mccabe asks for more $$ to investigate the russhun moles, spies, and saboteurs, you can bet trump’s head will explode.
FBI raiding Strategic Campaign Group and serving warrant. Suspicion of money laundering. Has windows covered in black trash bags so search not visible.
Needless to say Twitter is all atwitter
In line with today’s topic, James Madison puts in his two cents worth:
CA Sen Kamala Harris in long interview on CNN w/ Jake Tapper today, her first natl interview since election. What a star! Let it rise.
BiD – the atmosphere now is so different from Nixon’s final years. The Watergate and news of it occurred prior to the election. Nixon was elected on a near unanimous vote. We were deep in Vietnam, although reducing troops, the blood was still flowing. The peace agreement was still in the future. And, Nixon was popular for half the country. Nothing like now with almost seventy percent of the country against the floater.
A lot of that changed as the investigation proceeded and more of what Nixon was doing came out. As his world collapsed into drunken wandering around the WH and more of his bad stuff came out the attitude of the U.S. started changing. But, a lot of people were not ready to toss him out. But, the tapes made the difference.
Nixon was a flawed man. In a way he was very good. He did things, such as create the EPA. He also had the dark side by going with the Southern strategy, and things like the War on Drugs. Nixon is very much a different man than the senile old man that is currently in the WH. He did have his enemies list, and there was pride to be on that. The floater has a list, but it is so extensive everyone is on it except for his daughter (probably as long as she does not gain weight).
There are many books on Nixon, from the period of his presidency to today. I did not like him then, but, as I learn more about him I still do not like him, but I am fascinated by him. I recommend reading about Nixon and Kennedy. Started out friends and in the end Nixon hated the Kennedy’s.
Many medical and psychiatric people have concluded that the floater is mentally off. Most likely many would say the same of Nixon, but nothing like what is wrong with the floater.
Jamie
I’m urging the Kurds, switch their sites to Nova Scotia from the land of our forefathers.
crackers – The Trump Tower of Babel
xrep – We could probably hold a telethon if the investigation if funding can’t be obtained.
Jamie – That pic & caption! ?
Trump called COMEY a showboater? Takes one to know one!
Trump said he & COMEY had a “very nice dinner.” But tell us what we really want to know! What kind of cake did you have?
BB – Thank you for giving perspective on the times.
Jack Paar in one of his books tells good stories of what kind of guy Nixon was when he was on vacation……besides the stuff about Nixon, Jack Paar is always fun to read…….
Could Trump have obstructed justice? – CNN
https://apple.news/Ah6ETOjPCSX6diQi4Wisqfg
Tattoos you can hear – Mic
https://apple.news/AoE_D-v04SeKqTu4_-ory7g
OK, this is off topic, but…
It appears the trump’s lies are beginning to catch up with him and that even the people who can be fired by him are starting to tell the truth. ?? I sense that at least one of the cards in the house has fallen.
Cake…LOL. Whatever flavor it was, I’m sure it was the most beautiful piece of cake of that flavor we have ever seen.
Trump admits firing Comey to impede investigation into “Trump and Russia” – Boing Boing
https://apple.news/AIzGCltqGN1Csy8RXKKot6g
Back to Afghanistan, the media could do a better job. If the evening news covered actual news instead of a kid who beaned a shark, it might help.
Even the human interest stories go overboard. Week 1) The glasses to help the colorblind boy see color. Week 2) The glasses to help the older, colorblind man see color. Does ABC’s parent company have stock in the company making those glasses, like NBC Universal had ties to Merck and was hawking meds on a regular basis a few years back. Is there a vaccine for run-on sentences?
Flatus. I don’t know if you tuned into Hannity tonight or not. I did. I thought maybe he might change his story line after Trump today changed his re: the firing of Comey. Hannity is still on his bandwagon of changing current events to a diatribe against all other media outlets and why they aren’t covering the Hillary Clinton “scandals.” I thought Trump is delusional. Hannity is delusional to the ninth degree. I try to hear all points of views but tonight’s broadcast was way beyond the pale. Way, way beyond! Will someone rescue me from ever watching Fox News again!!
10 hours since my last test and we are still clocking at under 5 second page builds. Maybe we’re out of the woods once again. Mobile platforms might be a bit slower, nature of the beast. It has been a long day of IT focus for me, eager to get back to content. Whenever I go down these tech rat holes I learn so much it’s almost worth it.
Many thanks to SJWNY, whose donation helped me cover the cost of our php memory upgrade to increase page building speed.
So every now and then I sing to my old fat ass cat from Baton Rouge:
“oh-oh you goofy-ass cat,
you don’t know nothin and you like it like that”
he always nods and smiles……