[Soldiers of the 369th (15th N.Y.), awarded the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action, 1919. Image from NARA.] Today the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol asked eight federal agencies for records. The chair of the committee, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), gave the agencies two weeks to produce a sweeping range of material that showed the committee is conducting a thorough investigation of the last days of the Trump administration.
I don't believe executive privelege extends beyond the term of service. There is no former executive privelege. I also believe that, while in office, every government official, especially the president, needs to be aware that at some point, everything they do, or fail to do, will be subject to examination, and, if appropriate, criminal prosecution.
Failure by a sitting president to "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States" while in fact actively seeking to undermine both the spirit and the letter of that document is treason of the highest order.
It felt good to see the rule of law being upheld and reinforced by District Judge Linda Parker in Michigan sanctioning the lawyers for DT who brought a frivolous law suit against Michigan. She ordered them to pay legal fees of the State of Michigan, to have the nine lawyers get some court ordered education on election law and to refer the lawyers to their state bar for possible suspension of their license to practice law and even disbarment. Sounds like the judge's entire 110 page decision makes for some excellent reading. A district court judge here in Texas told me we would be all right as long as the Rule of Law held in our democracy. This gives me hope.
I look at the faces in the photograph and grow still and just think about things. These are perhaps men that were sons and grandsons of young freed slaves. To look at the medals bestowed by France and to think of them fighting all too well for freedom…..it stirs something in me.
Thank you, Professor Richardson, for the significant photos that accompany the history of which you write.
Reading your letter today has once again confirmed how blessed we are to have you to help us put these events in context of our history. I am so grateful I have found you and this amazing group of people. As a psychotherapist I studied systems theory which emphasized the importance of seeing the person in context of the wider systems. I am so impressed with your ability to do this with current events and our history. I love the way you are able to track the threads and pull the threads together so we can see the bigger picture. Our news with the latest breaking story is piecemeal, overwhelming, and difficult to put in context. Thank you for helping me see the bigger picture.
No one, including Taliban leaders, know what will transpire in Afghanistan over the coming weeks and months. I was a Foreign Service Officer serving in/on Congo (1960-1966). Among other things I witnessed: 1) three major rebellions; 2) two sustained UN military attacks against a renegade Congolese province, whose leader Incredibly became prime minister of the Congolese government several years later; 3) a CIA-run Congolese Air Force staffed by Cuban personnel recruited from Bay of Pigs veterans; 4) five white mercenary contingents; 5) frightening rebel threats to kill 3,300 foreign hostages, including captured American consulate personnel; and 6) a Belgian/U. S. Military operation that rescued the great majority of these hostages.
Like the Congo, I find the Taliban Afghanistan a bizarre, three-dimensional puzzle. The Taliban have inherited a failed state. They have no experience in running a country, which is in shambles and financially broke. The massive foreign funds from America, international institutions, and humanitarian organizations have been abruptly suspended
The Taliban leaders are desperate to obtain international ‘legitimacy.’ They view this as imperative in obtaining Afghan funds that are currently blocked by America and by other entities. Currently Kabul banks are closed for lack of funds. With a prolonged drought,,the massive humanitarian aid that had provided sustenance to millions of Afghans is in limbo.
The Taliban was fueled by a conservative religious fervor based on Sharia law, which, among other strictures, treated women badly. As Taliban leaders are discussing a government of ‘national union’ with former Afghan leaders and tribal chieftains, the reaction to such dealings by the Taliban soldiers is unknown. How might Taliban leaders balance their desire for a ‘moderate’ international image with the fervor that has sparked it’s guerrilla war movement? Also, nearly half of Afghanistan’s 34 million people hadn’t been born when the Taliban was forced out 20 years ago. Young Afghans have been accustomed to a different life style during these non-Taliban years.
What are the options for the United States and other Western nations? Immediately this could relate to pragmatic negotiations to extend the rescue of foreigners and more Afghans who fear for their lives. Longer term, what conditions might be demanded to release at least a portion of the billions of dollars of Afghan funds now being blocked? What might be the terms of an arrangement to restart the flow of imperative humanitarian aid to the millions of Afghans in a drought economy where the individual annual income is about $2,000? Under what conditions might America and other countries acknowledge the legitimacy of the Taliban regime? Might the UN serve as intermediary in some manner?
What might be the role of China and Russia? China has some previous agreements for mineral development in Afghanistan. Might it seek to help the Taliban government? What Russia might do seems an enigma.
Morning everyone. The starkness of the choices we now have in the next 3 years: elect more Dems in the House and Senate or see everything fall off a cliff into the Land of Autocracy. The Ghastly Obstructionist Party is terrified of what is happening now. Remember that rabid creatures are dangerous when cornered and they infect everything around them with no thought to the future. They are the real-world zombies.
One of the things I find interesting about all the hand wringing about Afghanistan is that the media are also now dropping the ball about all kinds of things the Despicables are rushing to get done while they are yelping and bellowing about Afghanistan: on the local level we are now seeing anti-choice bills being rushed through state legislatures; governors threatening to withdraw funds from schools with mask mandates; a ton of racist laws trying to restrict the vote. And very little of this is finding its way to the airwaves because everyone--who had ignored Afghanistan more or less happily for the last 20 years--is now pulling a "but her emails" moment to deflect attention to the anti-democratic activities going on all over the country. The doggedness of the House select committee is welcome, but they will continue to do their work more or less in a vacuum unless and until they can stop the "news" media from sucking all the air out of the room.
And yes: I am totally fed up. With a lot of things. But I will save all of that for another time.
I watched Rachel’s interview with Bennie Thompson. He doesn’t pussy-foot around. He explained everything he and the committee are doing, thus far. Rachel wanted to know why the asked for documentation that stems back to April 2020. Rep. Thompson told her that there is strong evidence that the plans of the insurrection may have been started at that time. Nancy was so smart to select him as the top dog in this committee. I see a little light at the end of this very dark tunnel now.
History was made in federal court tonight. David H. Fink Esq., of Bloomfield MI filed a lawsuit, perhaps the most significant in history. He’s a nice man. We spoke tonight. Trump attorneys owe legal fees and court costs and may lose their licenses to practice - and stand accused of creating January 6th by Mr. Fink - by lying.
That accompanying photo is so appreciated. I spent some time staring into each individual’s face and tried to image what they’d experienced. Such courage and heroism.
Thanks for telling the story. But I do not take comfort in the fact that over a century after the French awarded the Croix de Guerrero to the Harlem Hellfighters, their own country decided to honor them as well. We do not in the case of Jan 6 have a century to wait (nor indeed did the Black soldiers of that hell or their families). There will be no democratic nation in the United States if we can’t put together an accurate and compelling history now.
There is more to the January 6 insurrection and we will never know the full story. There is more too about Afghanistan and we will never know the full story. At least one thing is known, African-American soldiers have finally gotten their due 100 years too late.
This is brilliant work. Wow. Incredible pulling all of this together. Wow those records requested by the committee should definitely make it clear what the former so called president and his yes men were up to overthrowing democracy and the change of presidents. Love how you tied in history and this well deserved medal. Thank you Heather for this. History and perspective and knowledge of what is happening today
I don't believe executive privelege extends beyond the term of service. There is no former executive privelege. I also believe that, while in office, every government official, especially the president, needs to be aware that at some point, everything they do, or fail to do, will be subject to examination, and, if appropriate, criminal prosecution.
Failure by a sitting president to "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States" while in fact actively seeking to undermine both the spirit and the letter of that document is treason of the highest order.
It felt good to see the rule of law being upheld and reinforced by District Judge Linda Parker in Michigan sanctioning the lawyers for DT who brought a frivolous law suit against Michigan. She ordered them to pay legal fees of the State of Michigan, to have the nine lawyers get some court ordered education on election law and to refer the lawyers to their state bar for possible suspension of their license to practice law and even disbarment. Sounds like the judge's entire 110 page decision makes for some excellent reading. A district court judge here in Texas told me we would be all right as long as the Rule of Law held in our democracy. This gives me hope.
I look at the faces in the photograph and grow still and just think about things. These are perhaps men that were sons and grandsons of young freed slaves. To look at the medals bestowed by France and to think of them fighting all too well for freedom…..it stirs something in me.
Thank you, Professor Richardson, for the significant photos that accompany the history of which you write.
Reading your letter today has once again confirmed how blessed we are to have you to help us put these events in context of our history. I am so grateful I have found you and this amazing group of people. As a psychotherapist I studied systems theory which emphasized the importance of seeing the person in context of the wider systems. I am so impressed with your ability to do this with current events and our history. I love the way you are able to track the threads and pull the threads together so we can see the bigger picture. Our news with the latest breaking story is piecemeal, overwhelming, and difficult to put in context. Thank you for helping me see the bigger picture.
The Harlem Hellfighters were also the ones who introduced Jazz to France.
BTW - Josephine Baker has just been inducted into the French Pantheon - the highest honor that can be given there.
No one, including Taliban leaders, know what will transpire in Afghanistan over the coming weeks and months. I was a Foreign Service Officer serving in/on Congo (1960-1966). Among other things I witnessed: 1) three major rebellions; 2) two sustained UN military attacks against a renegade Congolese province, whose leader Incredibly became prime minister of the Congolese government several years later; 3) a CIA-run Congolese Air Force staffed by Cuban personnel recruited from Bay of Pigs veterans; 4) five white mercenary contingents; 5) frightening rebel threats to kill 3,300 foreign hostages, including captured American consulate personnel; and 6) a Belgian/U. S. Military operation that rescued the great majority of these hostages.
Like the Congo, I find the Taliban Afghanistan a bizarre, three-dimensional puzzle. The Taliban have inherited a failed state. They have no experience in running a country, which is in shambles and financially broke. The massive foreign funds from America, international institutions, and humanitarian organizations have been abruptly suspended
The Taliban leaders are desperate to obtain international ‘legitimacy.’ They view this as imperative in obtaining Afghan funds that are currently blocked by America and by other entities. Currently Kabul banks are closed for lack of funds. With a prolonged drought,,the massive humanitarian aid that had provided sustenance to millions of Afghans is in limbo.
The Taliban was fueled by a conservative religious fervor based on Sharia law, which, among other strictures, treated women badly. As Taliban leaders are discussing a government of ‘national union’ with former Afghan leaders and tribal chieftains, the reaction to such dealings by the Taliban soldiers is unknown. How might Taliban leaders balance their desire for a ‘moderate’ international image with the fervor that has sparked it’s guerrilla war movement? Also, nearly half of Afghanistan’s 34 million people hadn’t been born when the Taliban was forced out 20 years ago. Young Afghans have been accustomed to a different life style during these non-Taliban years.
What are the options for the United States and other Western nations? Immediately this could relate to pragmatic negotiations to extend the rescue of foreigners and more Afghans who fear for their lives. Longer term, what conditions might be demanded to release at least a portion of the billions of dollars of Afghan funds now being blocked? What might be the terms of an arrangement to restart the flow of imperative humanitarian aid to the millions of Afghans in a drought economy where the individual annual income is about $2,000? Under what conditions might America and other countries acknowledge the legitimacy of the Taliban regime? Might the UN serve as intermediary in some manner?
What might be the role of China and Russia? China has some previous agreements for mineral development in Afghanistan. Might it seek to help the Taliban government? What Russia might do seems an enigma.
Hang on, there is a rocky ride ahead.
Morning everyone. The starkness of the choices we now have in the next 3 years: elect more Dems in the House and Senate or see everything fall off a cliff into the Land of Autocracy. The Ghastly Obstructionist Party is terrified of what is happening now. Remember that rabid creatures are dangerous when cornered and they infect everything around them with no thought to the future. They are the real-world zombies.
One of the things I find interesting about all the hand wringing about Afghanistan is that the media are also now dropping the ball about all kinds of things the Despicables are rushing to get done while they are yelping and bellowing about Afghanistan: on the local level we are now seeing anti-choice bills being rushed through state legislatures; governors threatening to withdraw funds from schools with mask mandates; a ton of racist laws trying to restrict the vote. And very little of this is finding its way to the airwaves because everyone--who had ignored Afghanistan more or less happily for the last 20 years--is now pulling a "but her emails" moment to deflect attention to the anti-democratic activities going on all over the country. The doggedness of the House select committee is welcome, but they will continue to do their work more or less in a vacuum unless and until they can stop the "news" media from sucking all the air out of the room.
And yes: I am totally fed up. With a lot of things. But I will save all of that for another time.
I watched Rachel’s interview with Bennie Thompson. He doesn’t pussy-foot around. He explained everything he and the committee are doing, thus far. Rachel wanted to know why the asked for documentation that stems back to April 2020. Rep. Thompson told her that there is strong evidence that the plans of the insurrection may have been started at that time. Nancy was so smart to select him as the top dog in this committee. I see a little light at the end of this very dark tunnel now.
History was made in federal court tonight. David H. Fink Esq., of Bloomfield MI filed a lawsuit, perhaps the most significant in history. He’s a nice man. We spoke tonight. Trump attorneys owe legal fees and court costs and may lose their licenses to practice - and stand accused of creating January 6th by Mr. Fink - by lying.
That accompanying photo is so appreciated. I spent some time staring into each individual’s face and tried to image what they’d experienced. Such courage and heroism.
Thanks for telling the story. But I do not take comfort in the fact that over a century after the French awarded the Croix de Guerrero to the Harlem Hellfighters, their own country decided to honor them as well. We do not in the case of Jan 6 have a century to wait (nor indeed did the Black soldiers of that hell or their families). There will be no democratic nation in the United States if we can’t put together an accurate and compelling history now.
Thank you for this piece -- thank you for every piece, actually.
There is more to the January 6 insurrection and we will never know the full story. There is more too about Afghanistan and we will never know the full story. At least one thing is known, African-American soldiers have finally gotten their due 100 years too late.
Congratulations to the families of the Harlem Hellfighters for their forefathers being finally awarded the CMH.
“Accurate history has a way of coming out!” What an excellent way to pull these two events together.
This is brilliant work. Wow. Incredible pulling all of this together. Wow those records requested by the committee should definitely make it clear what the former so called president and his yes men were up to overthrowing democracy and the change of presidents. Love how you tied in history and this well deserved medal. Thank you Heather for this. History and perspective and knowledge of what is happening today