News Of The Week Roundup: Week 32, 2021

The news over the past week was dominated primarily by four stories: the continued COVID-19 crisis in southern U.S. states, the departure of American troops from Afghanistan, a massive and deadly earthquake in Haiti and the return of football as the NFL preseason kicked off.

Things are bad in Florida with the Delta variant causing COVID-19 to spread everywhere across the state it seems.

Florida reported 1,071 COVID deaths over a 7-day period, a 74% increase from the previous week. Two children are among the dead.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 15, 2021

As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues his b.s. tour of blaming everyone and everything for the virus instead of encouraging preventative measures, folks are fact-checking him in real time:

NIH Director Collins on DeSantis blaming immigrants for Covid spread: "Let nobody try to say that's why the US is in trouble. The rate of infection in Mexico is actually lower than it is right now in places like Texas, Louisiana, and Florida." pic.twitter.com/V4wRxB0nDg

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 15, 2021

Of course, the first point of mitigating spread is so folks don't get sick and die. The other main reason is to protect the healthcare system. There are so few hospital and ICU beds in the south that it is scary. Don't forget it's hurricane season too...

In Lafayette, Louisiana right now:

There are 10 NON COVID patients who have been waiting in the emergency room at Lafayette General Medical Center for 34 hours.

Just to get a bed in the hospital.

That health system had 35 Covid patients 30 days ago.
They have 154 tonight.

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) August 15, 2021

"There are fewer ICU beds available than the day after Cat 4 Hurricane Laura came ashore, said Cavanaugh.

'It’s incredible that we had more capacity the day after Laura – with hospitals evacuating, with no power or water – than what we have right now'.”https://t.co/PastFnikqS

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) August 13, 2021

America's war in Afghanistan is 20 years old, which is about 20 years longer than we ever needed to be there in the first place. The Biden administration announced a final troop pullout back in April and it began in earnest a couple weeks ago. Now the country is in shambles and the Afghan National Army (ANA) just gave up and surrendered to the Taliban. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani took off and fled the country, signaling a collapse of the official government. There sure is a lot of unpack here:

1. The end result of the Taliban retaking power was inevitable. Why was American intelligence so poor that military officials believed it would take months - instead of days - for this to occur?

2. Why did 20 years of U.S. military training, huge supplies of state-of-the-art weapons and infusions of monthly payments fail to produce a strong ANA? This is rhetorical, but I will answer it anyway: because you can't impose your own beliefs about democracy and the will to fight on other people (and nations). The individuals have to believe in the cause and do so without fear. Also, you can't beat guerrilla (or tribal) warfare. See Viet Cong.

#HardTruths. #Afghanistan fell quickly because it was culturally predisposed to cut deals with the Taliban bc they are Afghans. We were the foreigners, they live there. The anti-Taliban mission was doomed after Tora Bora thanks to Pakistan giving them safe harbor. https://t.co/x04G3Xkrsn

— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) August 15, 2021

3. Why were U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan in the first place? The 9/11 terrorist attacks, of course. Why have U.S. forces stayed in the region so long after allies left? No exit plan (see Bush/Cheney), a fear of military failure, a desire for nation building, a patriotic belief that it is America's job to "fix everything" and "help everyone." That last part isn't a dig, by the way. I am proud so many nation's around the world respect America, our wealth and especially our military might. Still, hard power can't always fix everything.

4. Why did the Trump administration - especially Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - so ardently believe the Taliban were worthy partners in peace and were negotiating in good faith? Why did the Biden administration keep Trump's draw-down deadline?

Just gonna leave this from @RichardEngel here again. We had one job: defeat the Taliban/get Bin Laden. The Bush-Cheney administration chose the Iraq invasion-occupation oil fever dream instead. And they falsely pinned 9/11 on Iraq to do it. There’s just no getting away from that. pic.twitter.com/OudG9C1kT9

— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) August 15, 2021

President Biden is now sending more troops in to Afghanistan to rescue Americans and the Afghan partners who have helped us all these years. I hope they all get out safely and that the evacuations occur quickly. One thing to note: the Taliban knows not to engage with U.S. troops. They certainly live in the stone age, but they are not so stupid as to know that engaging with American military will mean certain - and massive - retaliation against them.

Al Jazeera Arabic is airing what is says is live video of Taliban fighters inside the presidential palace in Kabul pic.twitter.com/IGKwwnqQQH

— Evan Hill (@evanhill) August 15, 2021

A final thought, er, question on Afghanistan: of those who believe leaving the region at this time was the wrong decision, then when was the right time to go? Another year? Decade? Never?

Cheney on Afghanistan: "President Biden bears responsibility for making this decision, but there's no question President Trump, his administration, Secretary Pompeo, they also bear very significant responsibility for this. They walked down this path of legitimizing the Taliban." pic.twitter.com/XxqHhMPeZA

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 15, 2021

Poor Haiti, man. A decade ago the country was just about destroyed by a big earthquake. Earlier this week, another massive quake hit the island. Over 700 are confirmed dead now and more certainly will be in the coming days.

More than 700 people are dead from the earthquake in Haiti. The destruction has pushed hospitals to the brink and blocked roads that would carry vital supplies.https://t.co/P0hCJOEbMe

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 15, 2021

Naomi Osaka to donate prize money from Cincinnati tournament to Haiti relief https://t.co/ipCjFLpjOR

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 15, 2021

Football (the NFL kind) is back! I watched my Bengals against the Buccaneers last night in preseason play. The Bengals won, edging out the current Super Bowl champs! Of course, Bengals QB Joe Burrow didn't take any snaps - he is still recovering from a massive knee injury - but the rest of the team looked really promising. Oh and this happened at a different game - people are nuts:

There is one constant in this world: you put NFL fans in the stands, expect haymakers to be thrown pic.twitter.com/C9fvDg4DCZ

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 15, 2021

And since we're on football, I leave you with this:

Not only is this guy using a fire to stay warm he is also ON FIRE. Now it’s illegal to tackle people. pic.twitter.com/qZrCZ5bSaY

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) August 12, 2021

Comments

[Jack T. Ripper]

Cheney should shut her Damn mouth. Her Daddy had a major role in the problems that exist in Afghanistan. Don’t blame Trump or biden without mentioning Pops in the same breath.

[Kixchix]

IMO That was a bit too much examination on Afghanistan for a week in review segment meant for a bunch of peeps loving rock n roll.

I believe there is a way to beat guerrilla/tribal warfare. It’s called a nuclear bomb. Not my cup of tea. But that’s about all I have to say about that. On BBG that is. Wonder how brets mole is. Peace! Enjoy your Sunday

[Allyson]

The mole is gone, Kixchix! Remember, he had it removed, lol!

Also, I just couldn't bear post the two new videos of Vince Neil performing the past few days. Some days I need a break, too.

Allyson

[Jack T. Ripper]

Vince actually sounded pretty good!

[Kixchix]

Civil war less painful that Vince Neil’s singing in 2021. Lol Allyson

[Metalboy!]

Brace yourselves, Boyz!

I actually agree with Ripper AND Kixchix …

Dick Cheney caused the whole damn thing just so Halliburton and all the other companies he, the Bushes and ALL their cronies (Huh-uh-uh-lo-oh!, Congress and donors) who make up The Military Industrial Complex, could reap the profits!

And all on our backs, leaving us, the U.S. Taxpayers, saddled with the bill.

As I’ve been saying for years, blow the cash at home, not other countries!

I’d rather see Harlem paved in gold rather than places like Afghanistan and Iraq get highways and all the other sh*t we built over there.

[Jack T. Ripper]

Trump should have never negotiated with the Taliban to begin with. That doesn’t change the fact that Biden botched the evacuation plan. What a disaster. Americans are trapped and there is no guarantee from the administration that they will make it home alive. Biden needs to accept the blame for his part and get our people home. You are the President Joe. You said you were the right man for the job. Stop playing the not my fault game ,Fix this nightmare. Come on Man!

[Sick of it]

The first plane hits. Sure, maybe it's an accident. We don't have all the details. Maybe it's just one of those horrific things that just happens sometimes.

Then the second plane hits.

This was no accident.

This was a coordinated attack. There can be no denying it.

And yet, here we are, 20 years later. The second plane has hit, and people still think "Oh it's just one of those horrific things that just happens sometimes."

Wake up. Stand up. Can you seriously not see what is going on?