“Chaotic” withdrawal from Afghanistan?
I am not impressed by the sniping at the Biden administration and Afghanistan. We have gotten all but 200 US citizens who wanted to leave out. Some were walked to the airport by US officials. We sent out over 30,000 emails to US citizens about leaving. I guess the strongest critical argument i am hearing is that we should have pre-planned the evacuation longer, maybe not announced a pullout until planned. But am not sure what "advance planning" would have meant -- practical thoughts about this, as opposed to hysterical attacks on Biden? If people can make a practical suggestion about what advance planning would have meant, I am ready to criticize the administration for failing to do it.
Covid and Republican voting
Of the ten states with the highest per capita covid infection rates, 9 voted Republican for president last year.
Covid and vaccinations in Massachusetts
99% of those with covid in Massachusetts are not fully vaccinated.
Princeton diversity meeting on Yom Kippur
The Princeton Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be holding its welcome lunch for students on Yom Kippur. Thank you for your inclusiveness.
Why are people leaving Hong Kong?
A letter to the South China Morning Post comments on statement by China rep in Hong Kong that people aren't leaving the city for the UK because of the national security law. "Is it because people are attracted by Britain’s higher tax regime? Is it because Britain has such exquisite culinary delights as toad in the hole and spotted duck? Is it because the cramped and largely non-air-conditioned London Underground is a much more pleasant form of transport than the MTR? Is it because a predominantly English-speaking country is easier to navigate when Cantonese is one’s mother tongue?"
China getting angry at Sweden
Sweden's leading newspaper notes there have been over 20 times in the last year when the Chinese ambassador has written strong or threatening messages to Swedish journalists and politicians. A Swedish journalist who partly reports from China has been told he will "suffer the consequences" if the reporting continues. As the newspaper notes, this is from a country constantly warning against others interfering in China's "internal affairs."
Afghanistan and Fox News
I wasn't hearing many people defending our role in Afghanistan before Biden announced he was pulling out. Now suddenly you would think it was fighting the Nazis during World War II. This chorus is led by Fox News, which previously hardly mentioned Afghanistan and is now broadcasting daily lamentations of unlimited sadness.
Steve Kelman On Politics...
Agreed on the lack of content and context for the criticism of the Afghanistan withdrawal. While of course regrettable, the lack of any indication from any intelligence service worldwide that the country was in danger of imminent collapse makes it hard to understand how and why the US would have planned a more aggressive exfiltration.