The Patriot Post® · Fall of Saigon 2.0
Last week I reflected on how the fall of Saigon in 1975 closely mirrors what is happening in Afghanistan today. It’s history repeating itself. Our top brass always seems to be fighting the last war. The messaging coming from this administration is a perfect example of what not to do in ending a conflict.
The gang that couldn’t shoot straight (the Pentagon) was all over the map on messaging. The left hand truly didn’t know what the right hand was doing. Bagram Airfield was abandoned in the middle of the night without even telling our NATO allies. An hour from Kabul, this airfield would have provided security and the capability of evacuating our people rather than the chaos at the Kabul airport.
In July, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the country would not fall quickly. It wouldn’t happen over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. How’s that crow tasting, Mr. Blinken? Biden says everything is fine — U.S. citizens are not having any problems getting to the Kabul airfield. The Taliban are letting them through. Reality says something entirely different, as some of our citizens have been beaten trying to get through.
First, our citizens were told to shelter in place. I guess we wanted to give the Taliban plenty of time to surround the airport with dozens of checkpoints. Then our citizens were told to go to the airport to be evacuated. But, the U.S. government cannot guarantee their safety. That’s okay, Biden says, we’ll get everyone out who wants to leave. So there’s that!
Americans who are getting through to family or friends are terrified with all that is happening around them. A woman, sobbing on her phone, begging the president to help, is afraid every time a car goes by. She fears if found, she and others with her will be executed by Taliban fighters.
At a Pentagon press conference last week, a reporter asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about plans to get Americans out and he stood there with a blank look on his face. Fortunately, Gen. Mark Milley of the Joint Chiefs of Staff jumped in with a non-answer answer.
In their defense, they were more focused on the real threat to America: “climate change” and white rage/white supremacists in the military. The whole Afghanistan thing blindsided them. Don’t forget the worst attack on democracy — the January 6 “insurrection” — which was more damaging than 9/11 and Pearl Harbor! I can see why they were caught off guard.
Our hands are tied; there’s nothing we can do, they say. Our military have to stay behind the walls of the airport. Meanwhile, British and French troops are out in the city of Kabul bringing their people in safely, including some Americans. I hope the story I heard this past weekend is not true: A U.S. general told the British to stop doing what they were doing because it was making us look bad.
On Sunday, Biden bragged about how many thousands of people have been evacuated so far. Over 30,000, I believe. But help me, someone: How many Americans have been on those flights? The only figure I’ve heard is 300 Americans are safely out of Kabul.
Don’t forget, Biden says he’s talked to all of our allies and NATO partners and they think he’s doing a great job. God help our citizens trapped behind enemy lines if these clowns are their only hope for rescue.
Something to think about?