Hunkered Down in Bremerton

Withdrawal from Afghanistan

This week the United States began to withdraw the military and civilians from Afghanistan after 20 years. We were told that moving embassy staff to the Kabul Airport by helicopter was not an evacuation (which of course it was). We are told that airlift of US Citizens and Afghan allies was not the same as happened in Vietnam in the 1970's (which of course it was). And we were told that it was totally unexpected that the Afghan military and government would be overrun by the Taliban in a matter of days (which of course many experts now claim to have expected).

We are told that around 60-75000 are being and will be evacuated. They are working at the rate of about 5000 per day. But they aren't telling us where they are taking them. Are they going to Qatar, Kazakhstan or Syria or Guantanamo or Florida? Who knows? Have they had their Covid-19 Vaccinations (duh -no), Are they wearing masks and following social distancing (duh- no). Are they becomming more sick hungry refugees without plans following in the footsteps of the Palestinians and the Syrians? Just what the world needs.

More importantly are they coming to this country? We already expect they are carrying Covid-19 and that many of them can't read or write. Our immigration facilities are already overwhelmed, understaffed and underfunded with the thousands fleeing Central America. Congress is loath to fund increased and improved immigation centers.

President Biden (to his credit) seems willing to take responsibility for this. But this is a huge problem that has been brewing for twenty years seemingly without a plan for how it was to happen. Even Trump was smart enough to now follow through with this without a plan. Until these and other questions can be answered by the administration, President Biden will be in the hot seat and his popularity ratings will plummet. Will this allow Trump to make a return... I certainly hope not.

Howard B. Julien

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Updated August 21, 2021