Recent events and more than the usual disengagement from narrative media have me pondering two seemingly unrelated questions on the Tuesday evening: Why is the Biden Administration still hunting terrorists in Afghanistan and what exactly was the official government business need that was of such critical importance this week that Speaker Pelosi just had to visit Taiwan?
A third, and probably the most important, question: What will be the repercussions of these dangerous games by truly stupid people?
Now, I have seen even those of the nominal right praising both actions and (reluctantly) the players involved. Indeed, I agree that a dead terrorist leader is a good thing and not letting the Chinese dictate when and where “we” can conduct relations with our friends and allies around the world is also necessary. But these correct ends are in no way indicative of intelligent and/or proper behavior. In fact, both were unnecessarily provocative and likely really, really stupid at this point in history.
I suspect that looking back at the Pelosi visit from late September will reveal that this was not a useful stunt. Whether immediate, tactical, and hot or long term and strategic, expect the costs to be steep and damaging to U.S. interests. (I hope the campaign contributions that Nancy picked up there and those she harvests from for immediate aftermath are worth the broader costs to the country. But I digress.)
The Afghanistan stunt may prove to be even more costly on the PR front. The hornet’s nest has now been stirred…now, remind me again, how many American citizens are still stuck there after being abandoned by the Biden-Harris administration last year? A couple months from now Putin’s little game with his American B-baller hostage will look like nothing compared the what the Afghan thugs very well may start doing with those American citizens. Abandoned and forgotten once already, don’t expect Team Biden to ride in to the rescue.
Most don’t seem to notice this yet but this has been a very bad week…and its only Tuesday.
the philo t. custis institute 
From above: “I suspect that looking back at the Pelosi visit from late September will reveal that this was not a useful stunt. Whether immediate, tactical, and hot or long term and strategic, expect the costs to be steep and damaging to U.S. interests.”
Today’s headlines:
The Only Dangerous Thing About Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit is Her Boss’s Cowardice
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/08/only-dangerous-thing-about-pelosis-taiwan-visit-daniel-greenfield/
“…China chose to pick this fight over Pelosi because it could make Biden blink. And he blinked. …”
“…The otherwise forgettable trip became another warning that America could not be counted on and that any of the assurances coming out of the White House are worthless. …”
“The Biden administration repeatedly threw away the country’s strategic ambiguity, talking tough about militarily defending Taiwan, only to panic at China’s threats.
“America’s enemies keep testing Biden. What appear to be crises are often just tests by China, Russia, Iran, and other enemies to see how far the United States can be pushed. And the latest answer is that Biden can be pushed by China into turning on his closest allies.
“If Biden won’t even defend Pelosi from China, what are the odds he’ll defend Taiwan? None.”
Again, not a useful stunt. In fact, it will probably be a very costly stunt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Biden “administration” is, by design, reducing the status of America in the world. He and his party dislike the entire idea of America and its founding, and consider the country racist, sexist, slavery-loving, and illegitimate. They are succeeding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A few days on there has been no explosion but we have no idea whether a fuze was lit or how long a fuze it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From above: “expect the costs to be steep and damaging to U.S. interests”
Via Instapundit on August 5:
Why Did South Korea’s President Refuse to Meet With Pelosi?
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2022/08/05/why-did-south-koreas-president-refuse-to-meet-with-pelosi-n1618643
“Despite Pelosi’s trip, the South Korean leader’s attitude speaks volumes about what our friends in the southern Pacific really think of our deterrence with Joe Biden as president. They have doubts that Biden and the U.S. would defend them.
“The showdown is coming. It may not be a full-blown, all-out shooting war with China, but it will be extremely dangerous. It’s understandable from South Korea’s point of view that edging away from the United States may be a good way to hedge their bets if things get too real in the Pacific.”
(Link: https://instapundit.com/535443/)
LikeLike
Don’t be surprised that people back away from you when you make yourself toxic.
LikeLiked by 1 person