My latest in PJ Media:
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a contentious exchange Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Biden’s handlers’ catastrophic bungling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and continued incompetence. Paul took the opportunity to tell Blinken some home truths, truths that Blinken and his colleagues are certain to continue to ignore, to their peril and ours.
Paul hit Biden’s handlers’ “colossal incompetence” in Afghanistan, and noted that the Biden administration was “holding no one accountable, having everyone circle the wagons.” He added: “To add insult to injury, this week you’ve now released sixty-four million dollars in aid to Afghanistan. Don’t we have some prohibition against giving aid and comfort to the enemy? Now the argument from the Biden administration is, ‘Oh, we’re giving it to charities, and it’s for the good of the people, for poor people, and for women.’ Well, the Taliban has a history of taking this. Throughout their governance, they would take the money. This was a big complaint we had when they were in power the last time. They now have eighty billion dollars’ worth of weapons. Three-hundred and fifty thousand automatic weapons. Are we really naïve enough to believe that we are just going to keep sending charity to Afghanistan and they’re not going to interrupt it? I think that’s a foolish notion.”
Paul made Blinken even more uncomfortable when he asked him: “The guy the Biden administration droned, was he an aid worker or an ISIS-K operative?”
Blinken first tried to deflect the question: “Uh, er, the administration is of course reviewing, that, uh, that strike, uh, and I’m sure that a, you know, a full assessment will be forthcoming .” Paul interrupted: “So you don’t know if it was an aid worker or an ISIS-K operative?” Blinken continued: “Uh, I can’t speak to that, and I can’t speak to that in this setting in any event.” Paul shot back: “So you don’t know or won’t tell us.” Blinken responded: “Uh, I don’t, I don’t know because we’re, we’re reviewing it.”
Paul then moved in for the kill: “Well, see, you’d think you’d kind of know before you off somebody with a predator drone whether he’s an aid worker or he’s an ISIS-K – you see, the thing is, this isn’t just you. It’s been going on for administration after administration. The Obama administration droned hundreds and hundreds of people. And the thing is, there is blowback to that. I mean, I don’t know if it’s true, but I see these pictures of these beautiful children that were killed in the attack. If that’s true and not propaganda, if that’s true, guess what? Maybe you’ve created hundreds or thousands of new potential terrorists from bombing the wrong people. So you’ve gotta know who you’re – we can’t sort of have an investigation after we kill people, we have an investigation before we kill people.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
CogitoErgoSum says
Even if he didn’t create any new terrorists he certainly left enough weaponry for 300,000 of them. As for not having replacement parts doesn’t he know that the Taliban’s good friend China is especially good at copying things like replacement parts? Afghanistan is now the armory for all the Jihadist groups in the world.
mortimer says
Senator Rand Paul is 100% correct. Blinken gave the entire JIHADIST MOVEMENT the KISS OF LIFE.
Secretary Blinken should resign. He is the newest reincarnation of Neville Chamblerain.
After President Trump exterminated ISIS, Blinken has RESCUSITATED the jihadist movement worldwide.
Blinken has REVIVED the ISLAMIC HYDRA which our Hercules, Pres.Trump, had killed and cauterized.
(In Greek myth, a monstrous serpent or dragon of the lake or marsh of Lerna in Argolis, represented as having nine heads, each of which, being cut off, was immediately succeeded by two new ones unless the wound was cauterized. The destruction of this monster was one of the twelve labors of Hercules.”
Raja says
CogitoErgoSum & mortimer
Both of you are 100 % right. The sec was grilled pretty well.
I hope, the world sees how the Biden administration just didn’t make a mess of the good decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, but ensured a big vote bank for the Dems for future. No excuses can whitewash this treachery and subterfuge Sadly, he also ensured the global terrorists get a good shot in the arm to kill / rape more people. .
Westman says
The Taliban were already armed. Suppose they just simply sell these weapons off in the ME at 10 cents on the dollar.
$80,000,000,000 x .10 = $8,000,000,000 = $8 Billion. That $64 Million in aid is chickenfeed compared to the liquidation value of the weapons.
Rand Paul is right. Giving ANY aid to the Taliban is the height of stupidity.
Phil Copson says
Secretary Blinken should resign. He is the newest reincarnation of Neville Chamberlain.
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You mean the British Prime Minister who re-armed and declared war against an evil ideology ?
Somehow, I don’t see Blinken in that role – he’d sooner go to war against Texas or Florida.
(Plus, following General “Marx” Milley’s instructions to his officers that they were to ignore Donald Trump and obey only him – how confident are you that current US Army leadership would obey orders anyway ?)
somehistory says
Mr. Paul is certainly right. Innocent people, children murdered…and for this fool to pretend he doesn’t know is no better than to admit outright who was killed except in his own cowardly brain…and the guilty, the taliban, the terrorists, the ones who are slaughtering people left and right, murdering innocent pregnant women, carrying human heads around as they sing and celebrate, have been armed to their teeth.
No good can come of either.
mortimer says
200,000 people or more will die as the ultimate result of Blinken’s and Biden’s COLOSSAL BLUNDERS in Afghanistan.
This was avoidable. US troops and NATO troops will soon have to return to Afghastlistan.
Kenneth J Johnson says
Good to know someone in the Senate is awake. KLudoslto mr Paul. Ken
mortimer says
Dr. Rand Paul is fearless. He would be a fine president.
James Lincoln says
Yes, mortimer.
I still prefer Pres. Trump, although Dr. Paul or Dr. Carson would have both been good.
gravenimage says
Rand Paul to Blinken: ‘You’ve Created Hundreds or Thousands of New Potential Terrorists’
…………..
I don’t think he’s created new Jihad terrorists–but he and Biden have certainly emboldened and enabled them.
mortimer says
The Islamic hydra in Afghanistan will sprout dozens of new heads. Jihadists from around the world will flock to the Taliban’s new DISNEYLAND for TERRORISTS.
Raja says
Nice Disneyland for prospective terrorists.
Raja says
gravenimage,
A “few” hundred thousand of the potential terrorists are always going to hate you, block road for namaz, not take instructions from superiors, honor kill family members, sponsor local terrorists, work overtime for the destruction of America through CAIR etc, remain mute spectators when plotting a big terror attack, will sneer you for all that you stand off and so on and so forth. Not convinced yet?
These potential terrorists are indeed potential. You look through any prism they are still potential terrorists. I am with Rand Paul Graven… 100%
gravenimage says
Raja, it is Islam that creates Jihad terrorists. But the weakness of Infidels can and does embolden them.
Phil Copson says
Rand Paul to Blinken: ‘You’ve Created Hundreds or Thousands of New Potential Terrorists’
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Correction: the Biden admin’s deliberate betrayal of NATO, it’s Afghan allies, and even it’s own citizens, has created not “hundreds or thousands”, but “hundreds OF thousands” of potential islamic terrorists.
Blinken can lie as much as he likes, and the MSM can air-brush this as much as they wish, but the fact remains that in the eyes of the world, America has surrendered to the Taliban and is now in full dhimmi-mode – knowing itself to be beaten and paying the jizya with humble submission.
This isn’t something that will disappear by the mid-term elections; the Fall of Kabul is akin to the Fall of Constantinople – a forever moment that signals the collapse of power and influence across an entire region of the world.
What influence has the US now got over nuclear-armed rogue states Pakistan and North Korea ? Why would the oppressed populations of Iran, Cuba, or anywhere look to America ?
America’s influence will increasingly be seen as malign – the Biden admin is working steadily to endanger Israel, and is doing the same to Saudi Arabia – allowing the installation of weapons systems in hostile states and withdrawing it’s own. Carter signalled that he had no problem with the overthrow of the Shah, and Biden’s team will do nothing to prevent the Iranian mullahs from over-throwing the House of Saud. The myth of NATO is also over – following that colossal betrayal, Europe knows that when the chips are down, it’s on it’s own.
Islamists and Leftists are now encouraged to believe that the end of Western democracy is within sight, and that one more shove will result in the victory of either socialism or Sharia.
Bear in mind that the struggle between Islam and the civilised world has gone on for 1400 years, whereas America’s position as the leading world power has existed for barely a single lifetime.
mortimer says
The Taliban can make a lot of money by selling American equipment to ALL of America’s enemies.
Wahoo! Terrorist fun fair. Blinken is to blame for this strategic catastrophe. Joe-mentia is not responsible for tying his shoes or zipping his fly.
mortimer says
The jihadists will move into the power vacuum created by Beijing Biden and Mr. Blinkered who keep telling us that Islam is ‘peaceful’.
Islam is the most warlike of all religions.
Raja says
Mortimer,
It is next to impossible that the crooks in the Biden admin don’t know how bad islam is. What matters is their agenda, and they want to push it real hard on the entire world.
These scums are insult to all those who heard allahu akbar before giving up their lives or being maimed. It is equally insulting to all around the globle who are watching the serpent of islam maneuvering stealthy.
Kepha says
Senators like Mr. Paul ought to keep hammering at this inept, corrupt, and at times treasonous [mal-]administration. While I waste no tears over people like Anwar al-Awlaki who got droned (I see this as analogous to a policeman answering a call to a school shooting, who finds himself in a position in which he has a clear, unobstructed shot at the shooter), the utmost care should be taken with these sorts of strikes/.
Still, it seems more and more the case that terrorists are created because there are plenty of people who hate as much for who we are as for what we have done, and now that we appear weak, this will make even more terrorists.
gravenimage says
Kepha, Islam teaches the hatred of all who have not submitted to Islam.
You are right that our weakness only emboldens Muslims, certainly.
Kesselman says
It’s not only the height of stupidity to leave anything of use to the vile beasts, but thinking high treason comes easy to me.—And high treason in wartime what does it mean? Or can it all be contained as pitiful neglect and incompetence?
Hank says
The incompetence, WASTE and amateurish logistics of withdrawal or pull-out is mind-boggling. To “add fuel to the fire”, Blinken releases $64m. Normally, you would need one forehead to put the palms of your hands on in disbelief. In this case you wish you had 2 foreheads to put the palms of your hands on.
“The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away. ”
Ronald Reagan
One picture is worth 1,000 denials.
Ronald Reagan
OLD GUY says
My Grandmother was a Paul and she had a lot of COMMON SENSE, I may be relates to Senator Rand Paul, I can see he too has a lot of COMMON SENSE. Which seems to be in dam short supply in Washington.
Most of our leaders need to read their job description, they are supposed to work for WE the PEOPLE, not just the wealthy elite and corporate leaders. Their job is to run our government and to protect American citizens rights and security no one else. Our foreign aid programs are so corrupt and wasteful, we need to let the private sector take care of charity and get the government out of giving our tax dollars to corrupt foreign governments and leaders. What a waste of our money and resources.
Rand Paul gets my VOTE.
James Lincoln says
Sen. Dr. Rand Paul suggested to Secretary of State Blinken that the United States should have given the Taliban 20 minutes to get out of the way – and then bomb the $80 billion worth of military equipment that was left behind.
The Secretary of State had no response.