At Thursday’s meeting of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, as Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) showed that former president Trump both recognized that he had lost the election and intended to leave the White House, he noted that on November 11, just four days after Democrat Joe Biden had been declared the winner of the 2020 election, Trump had abruptly ordered U.S. troops to leave Somalia and Afghanistan by January 15.
A truly remarkable post, because it highlights the lengths to which The Former Guy went to try and destroy this country, and his love of autocrats (mainly because he desperately wants to be one).
How many Americans understand what happened when we left Syria? Unrestrained, when our military presence left, it was Russian bombers and artillery that destroyed Hommes, Aleppo, Chobani, and other Syrian cities. The carpet bombing created a refugee crisis for Europe and especially for Germany, as Merkel promised to take in Syrian refugees. Russia created more than Germany could absorb. All the while stoking fear and hate of Muslims through Europe via SM in its Active Measures/destabilizations campaigns. It is different from the Cold War, some call it a ‘hot peace’, but it’s not. Whether we accept we are in a cyber war, indirect war, or hybrid war with Russia is moot. They are at war with us and all the West. The sooner we accept this fact, the better chance we have at winning.
Wow ... "The Pentagon considered Trump’s November 11 instructions “a rogue order,” since they had not gone through any of the appropriate channels, and disregarded them."
If only the media would spend time on President Biden's and Secretary Blinken's superb work in bringing NATO countries together and strengthening our relationships with Indo-Pacific countries. It is so refreshing to see U.S. leadership putting together such a comprehensive National Security Strategy with the goal of strengthened democracy around the world for the well-being of all. Freedom is precious and we all need to treasure it and protect it for every person in every community throughout the world. We, the People, all of us this time!
Sounds fabulous, but there's one ginormous flaw in that plan. We are so far from truly being the "united" States, that in just over 4 weeks, a majority of Americans who bother to vote can undo all those possible goals. I hope I'm wrong like never before.
This is largely Ronald Reagan’s fault for doubling down on fossil fuels. We should have shifted to alternative fuels in the 1990s and destroyed the outsized influence of autocracies like Saudi Arabia and Russia.
I had to read this twice. There is so much information packed in here. Thank you Heather. It outlines rump’s attempts to suck up to the world’s autocrats without a thought for the cost to anyone, only how it benefits him. We are so fortunate to have President Biden as our leader. So important to vote Democratic this midterm. Our democracy depends on it.
Trump’s ultimate goal was to create chaos so that everything could be blamed on Biden and his administration. In the interim, he helped himself to thousands of classified documents which he more than likely, sold to the Saudis and to Russia. He may have gone so far as talking to Iran. I believe Jared was one of his emissaries. He did, after all, receive a handsome sum of money from the Saudi Prince. Jared said it was for a new business he was starting. A likely story! The new business is a shell to hide laundered money and perhaps our missing documents. These dealings have been going on for quite some time. I mean what was Mnuchin doing in Saudi Arabia in 2018? Oh, he too met with Prince MBS for a handout. The Saudis and Putin’s puppets have infiltrated our Congress and they all (Tulsi Gabbard included) are Republicans. Imagine that!
Saudi Arabia can be brought to heel in 30 days. Pass a law that removes OPEC's exemption from US antit-trust laws. Announce an embargo on spare parts for their Army, Navy and air Force. Announce the withdrawal of US troops and then initiate the move. Then announce the defense of Saudi Arabia is no longer a US interest. Tell MBS to ask Putin to arm him and defend him and his collection of Seventh Century camel fornicators. We won't have to abrogate any defense treaties since we have never had a treaty with Saudi Arabia about anything ever.
Hopefully the Shia who do all the work in the country will then rise and kill every Wahhabi desert nomad barbarian in the country.
One correction about Belarus: the noise about Putin wanting Belarus to join he war is just that. Noise. The Belarusian army is close to worthless, nothing but a force for domestic oppression. And the Russians have no troops to move west into Belarus to start a second Kyiv offensive. It's just noise to try and put the Ukrainians off-balance.
And - The J6 Committee absolutely nailed DJT. Now comes the big test for the Constitution. Can the good actors protect it? Will it hold? Will the experiment succeed? Can it defeat anti-democratic forces?
The Biden Administration's policies are for the most part indicative of a coming to consensus through reasoned analysis of empirical evidence. Even in the context of rapidly changing circumstances, honoring of the American constitution and human decency are kept in play. And even with the reality that it is necessary to sit at the table with very bad actors.
By contrast, Republicans embrace irrationality, espouse dirty tricks, and engender chaos. Elevating media star Donald Trump center stage and professional Catholic Leonard Leo behind the scenes, in the entire right wing apparatus there is barely a pretense - and only a pretense - of regular order and the rule of law. Rogue orders and injustice are the business of the day. Because We Can is the operating principal. Apocalypse now is in play. It is why we must do all we can to keep a Democratic majority in our national and state governments.
The position of the Russian Federation and the Russian people, as was the position of Nazi Germany and the German people, is an example of what happens when an electorate gives over its responsibilities and power to perverse obsessions and delusions personified as 'strong men' and their enablers - who represent people's worst impulses 'wrapped in a flag and waving a cross.'
"A 1936 edition of The Christian Century notes: James Waterman Wise, Jr., in a recent address here before the liberal John Reed club said that [media mogul] Hearst and [and professional Catholic] Coughlin are the two chief exponents of fascism in America. If fascism comes, he added, it will not be identified with any “shirt” movement, nor with an “insignia,” but it will probably be “wrapped up in the American flag and heralded as a plea for liberty and preservation of the constitution.”
"in 1976, Geisel [Dr. Seuss] wrote a note responding to an interview request from Dartmouth College, saying, “I believed the USA would go down the drain if we listened to the America-First-isms of Charles Lindbergh and Senators Wheeler and Nye, and the rotten rot that the Fascist priest Father Coughlin was spewing out on radio."
Heather’s highlighting of how Bone Spur Donald, knowing that he lost to Biden, sought precipitously to withdraw our military from Germany (a NATO linchpin), Iraq, and Afghanistan, underscores his narcissistic disregard for responsible governing.
Indeed, his on again, off again threat to withdraw the United States from NATO could have been prelude to Putin’s successful invasion and brutal takeover of Ukraine. In stunning contrast, President Biden spearheaded a remarkable coalition and massive armaments program that has preserved Ukrainian independence and shattered Trump’s bromance buddy Putin’s draconian attempt to blackmail the West and establish Russian dominance over much of Eastern Europe.
With all of Trump’s presidential and ex-presidential calumnies, I find this attempted military bug out attempt to greatly weaken America’s global military commitments ranks among the most treacherous and self serving of all.
I hope that hundreds of retired generals and admirals, in a bipartisan communique, highlight their professional opinion of the implications of our former Commander in Chief’s personal pique.
Putin over there and Republicans here are really ruining lives and lifestyles. I'm angry and disappointed at how low humans can go and so curious as to why....
Very helpful and timely. Thank you!
Now we all need to vote blue to keep the train of freedom/truth/prosperity running!!!
A truly remarkable post, because it highlights the lengths to which The Former Guy went to try and destroy this country, and his love of autocrats (mainly because he desperately wants to be one).
How many Americans understand what happened when we left Syria? Unrestrained, when our military presence left, it was Russian bombers and artillery that destroyed Hommes, Aleppo, Chobani, and other Syrian cities. The carpet bombing created a refugee crisis for Europe and especially for Germany, as Merkel promised to take in Syrian refugees. Russia created more than Germany could absorb. All the while stoking fear and hate of Muslims through Europe via SM in its Active Measures/destabilizations campaigns. It is different from the Cold War, some call it a ‘hot peace’, but it’s not. Whether we accept we are in a cyber war, indirect war, or hybrid war with Russia is moot. They are at war with us and all the West. The sooner we accept this fact, the better chance we have at winning.
Wow ... "The Pentagon considered Trump’s November 11 instructions “a rogue order,” since they had not gone through any of the appropriate channels, and disregarded them."
If only the media would spend time on President Biden's and Secretary Blinken's superb work in bringing NATO countries together and strengthening our relationships with Indo-Pacific countries. It is so refreshing to see U.S. leadership putting together such a comprehensive National Security Strategy with the goal of strengthened democracy around the world for the well-being of all. Freedom is precious and we all need to treasure it and protect it for every person in every community throughout the world. We, the People, all of us this time!
Sounds fabulous, but there's one ginormous flaw in that plan. We are so far from truly being the "united" States, that in just over 4 weeks, a majority of Americans who bother to vote can undo all those possible goals. I hope I'm wrong like never before.
This is largely Ronald Reagan’s fault for doubling down on fossil fuels. We should have shifted to alternative fuels in the 1990s and destroyed the outsized influence of autocracies like Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Think of all the wars we would have avoided.
I had to read this twice. There is so much information packed in here. Thank you Heather. It outlines rump’s attempts to suck up to the world’s autocrats without a thought for the cost to anyone, only how it benefits him. We are so fortunate to have President Biden as our leader. So important to vote Democratic this midterm. Our democracy depends on it.
I wish we were as noble as this essay makes us out to be.
Trump’s ultimate goal was to create chaos so that everything could be blamed on Biden and his administration. In the interim, he helped himself to thousands of classified documents which he more than likely, sold to the Saudis and to Russia. He may have gone so far as talking to Iran. I believe Jared was one of his emissaries. He did, after all, receive a handsome sum of money from the Saudi Prince. Jared said it was for a new business he was starting. A likely story! The new business is a shell to hide laundered money and perhaps our missing documents. These dealings have been going on for quite some time. I mean what was Mnuchin doing in Saudi Arabia in 2018? Oh, he too met with Prince MBS for a handout. The Saudis and Putin’s puppets have infiltrated our Congress and they all (Tulsi Gabbard included) are Republicans. Imagine that!
Saudi Arabia can be brought to heel in 30 days. Pass a law that removes OPEC's exemption from US antit-trust laws. Announce an embargo on spare parts for their Army, Navy and air Force. Announce the withdrawal of US troops and then initiate the move. Then announce the defense of Saudi Arabia is no longer a US interest. Tell MBS to ask Putin to arm him and defend him and his collection of Seventh Century camel fornicators. We won't have to abrogate any defense treaties since we have never had a treaty with Saudi Arabia about anything ever.
Hopefully the Shia who do all the work in the country will then rise and kill every Wahhabi desert nomad barbarian in the country.
One correction about Belarus: the noise about Putin wanting Belarus to join he war is just that. Noise. The Belarusian army is close to worthless, nothing but a force for domestic oppression. And the Russians have no troops to move west into Belarus to start a second Kyiv offensive. It's just noise to try and put the Ukrainians off-balance.
Wow. What extraordinary times we live in!
And - The J6 Committee absolutely nailed DJT. Now comes the big test for the Constitution. Can the good actors protect it? Will it hold? Will the experiment succeed? Can it defeat anti-democratic forces?
The Biden Administration's policies are for the most part indicative of a coming to consensus through reasoned analysis of empirical evidence. Even in the context of rapidly changing circumstances, honoring of the American constitution and human decency are kept in play. And even with the reality that it is necessary to sit at the table with very bad actors.
By contrast, Republicans embrace irrationality, espouse dirty tricks, and engender chaos. Elevating media star Donald Trump center stage and professional Catholic Leonard Leo behind the scenes, in the entire right wing apparatus there is barely a pretense - and only a pretense - of regular order and the rule of law. Rogue orders and injustice are the business of the day. Because We Can is the operating principal. Apocalypse now is in play. It is why we must do all we can to keep a Democratic majority in our national and state governments.
The position of the Russian Federation and the Russian people, as was the position of Nazi Germany and the German people, is an example of what happens when an electorate gives over its responsibilities and power to perverse obsessions and delusions personified as 'strong men' and their enablers - who represent people's worst impulses 'wrapped in a flag and waving a cross.'
"A 1936 edition of The Christian Century notes: James Waterman Wise, Jr., in a recent address here before the liberal John Reed club said that [media mogul] Hearst and [and professional Catholic] Coughlin are the two chief exponents of fascism in America. If fascism comes, he added, it will not be identified with any “shirt” movement, nor with an “insignia,” but it will probably be “wrapped up in the American flag and heralded as a plea for liberty and preservation of the constitution.”
"in 1976, Geisel [Dr. Seuss] wrote a note responding to an interview request from Dartmouth College, saying, “I believed the USA would go down the drain if we listened to the America-First-isms of Charles Lindbergh and Senators Wheeler and Nye, and the rotten rot that the Fascist priest Father Coughlin was spewing out on radio."
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sinclair-lewis-on-fascism/
https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/30/obituaries/james-w-wise-81-author-and-lecturer-warned-of-the-nazis.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Waterman_Wise
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/01/dr-seuss-protest-icon/515031/
Heather’s highlighting of how Bone Spur Donald, knowing that he lost to Biden, sought precipitously to withdraw our military from Germany (a NATO linchpin), Iraq, and Afghanistan, underscores his narcissistic disregard for responsible governing.
Indeed, his on again, off again threat to withdraw the United States from NATO could have been prelude to Putin’s successful invasion and brutal takeover of Ukraine. In stunning contrast, President Biden spearheaded a remarkable coalition and massive armaments program that has preserved Ukrainian independence and shattered Trump’s bromance buddy Putin’s draconian attempt to blackmail the West and establish Russian dominance over much of Eastern Europe.
With all of Trump’s presidential and ex-presidential calumnies, I find this attempted military bug out attempt to greatly weaken America’s global military commitments ranks among the most treacherous and self serving of all.
I hope that hundreds of retired generals and admirals, in a bipartisan communique, highlight their professional opinion of the implications of our former Commander in Chief’s personal pique.
‘Veterans for Trump’ indeed.
Putin over there and Republicans here are really ruining lives and lifestyles. I'm angry and disappointed at how low humans can go and so curious as to why....
Thanks Dr. Richardson for keeping us informed in this avalanche of news.