August 30, 2021

"The White House called the event a 'dignified transfer' of the bodies; rather than a 'ceremony' it was described as a 'solemn movement.' The precise language was so that families did not feel obliged to attend..."

"...  officials said. Biden clasped his right hand to his chest when the order to present arms came with each transfer as military officers saluted. His eyes were locked on the cases as they were carried to the transfer vehicles, occasionally bowing his head and appearing to close his eyes. Family members of all 13 victims were represented but it is not clear if all spoke to Biden during a private meeting....  The father of one of the marines [said] 'They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security... I blame my own military leaders... Biden turned his back on him. That’s it.'... [He] really loved that [Marine Corps] family. He was devoted. He was going to make a career out of this, and he wanted to go... No hesitation for him to be called to duty.'... The oldest victim was marine staff sergeant Darin Hoover, 31. His father, also called Darin, said his son was on his third tour of Afghanistan. 'He led his men into that and they followed him, but I know — I know in my heart of hearts — he was out front... And they would’ve followed him through the gates of hell if that’s what it took, and, ultimately, that’s pretty much what he did.'... Rylee McCollum’s.... mother, Kathy, said that her son was 'getting ready to come home from freaking Jordan [where he was stationed] to be with his wife to watch the birth of his son. And that sackless, dementia-ridden piece of crap just sent my son to die.'"

47 comments:

Michael said...

He thought it took too long.

MadisonMan said...

I'm appreciating the word 'sackless' to describe the Commander-in-Chief. I don't know how it describes him correctly, but it seems so apt!

rehajm said...

How do ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake? For starters make sure he doesn't hear from the families of the first man to die for a mistake...

rehajm said...

'solemn movement' = hiding the bad optics of an incompetent administration

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Or: Media spin as hard as possible to give Potemkin Joe a real heart.

Temujin said...

Some things about this 'event'.

There are more dead now, and more coming. Just today a report that Americans at the gate, trying to get in, were turned away while the XO was having some birthday cake. Leadership throughout our military and political class has reached the point of revulsion to the American people. Patton would have had their balls on a platter.

Biden was shown to be looking at his watch during the 'solemn movement'. As someone would who is wondering how much longer he had to stand there, or someone looking ahead to something or some place he'd rather be. Or maybe in Joe's case, he was wondering if they'd make it to the Ice Cream Palace before they closed.

WaPo (of all places) reporting today that the Taliban offered to stay out of Kabul, allowing us that room to evacuate everybody while still controlling much of the city. At least it would have given us a safety margin. Biden and team turned that down, vying only for the airport. You cannot measure how incompetent our leaders are.

The only reason many don't know more about the horrors of what went on, what is going on, and what will happen next is that our media are useless. They don't want to report anymore bad about a Democratic elected official than they have to. There will be Americans, Brits, and Afghans left behind to get slaughtered. Keep that image of Joe checking his watch in mind when you hear of these things.

Big Mike said...

There’s a viral picture of Biden looking at his wrist watch, allegedly during this “solemn movement.” Not good.

The parents have a right to their grief and their anger.

Mike Sylwester said...

I served 14 years in the military. If I had died in combat, I would not have wanted my very liberal parents to use the occasion to publicly criticize the military.

I volunteered to join the military, and I understood that I might be assigned to a combat situation, where mistakes might be made and I might be killed.

My decisions along those lines should be respected by my parents and by everyone else. If I were killed and if a journalist asked my parents to comment, then I would have wanted my parents to refrain from criticizing the military or the President.

Wince said...

And that sackless, dementia-ridden piece of crap just sent my son to die.

"I'm here another 3-1/2 years. Don't forget to tip your wait staff."

The reviews are coming in, world wide, and they are not good.

Dave Begley said...

One dead Marine was from Omaha. He was 23. He is an alum of Omaha Westside high school that is about 5 miles from where I sit right now. Westside was my high school's rival. The two schools are about 7 miles apart. I have a friend whose son is a Marine; about the same age.

Joe Biden is the proximate cause of this disaster. He needs to be removed by the 25th Amendment. I'll take my chances with Harris.

Yancey Ward said...

Waiting to read the conservative case for why these families shouldn't blame Biden.

Richard Aubrey said...

I've done Notification of Next of Kin, and Survivor Assistance Officer. After my brother, USAF, was killed, I wrote a letter to someone who could have been thought to be associated with the screwup. The response was much kinder than the letter deserved.
I recall my father's description of paying his respects to bereaved families of friends when he returned from WWII.
I would give grieving families all the slack in the world. But I would not take them as an authority.

I guess Cindy Sheehan was an authority on such things. Until she wasn't.

Joe Smith said...

One of the marines' mom called in to at least one radio show (I think I heard her on David Webb's show) and it was devastating.

Run 30 seconds of that on a radio ad and I don't know how anyone could get reelected...

Duke Dan said...

Dignified transfer is the name of this activity from the army unit that performs the task. Tom Cotton was a member of this unit and wrote a book about all of their duties related to Arlington National Cemetery based on his tour there.

jaydub said...

President Biden apparently thought it ran too long and had to surreptitiously check his watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlLR6hiCxjM

Just like he surreptitiously checked his phone during the "moment of silence" he called for last week when he addressed the nation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAduALbSVSo

He needs to work on the whole faking sincerity bit.



Mark O said...

Why was he checking his watch? Is it a Spiro Agnew watch or a Mickey Mouse.
(I once had both)

wendybar said...

And Biden was so busy, he had to check his watch to see what time he could have his afternoon pudding and nap.

The Drill SGT said...

Both Bush's were good in those situations, but having served. Before you start on 43, he flew a high performance jet with a record of fatalities.

As I understand it, both tried to have one-on-one meeting with families and received serious invective gracefully.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

"And that sackless, dementia-ridden piece of crap just sent my son to die.'"

Wow! If this were Ace of Sapce HQ website, I'd think that was something the proprietor added at the end. But's I'm pretty sure that didn't happen here.

And I've seen pictures. He's looking down at his watch while others 9including his wife) are standing at attention

That picture is going to appear in a lot of campaign ads over the next 3+ years ("Democrats. They just don't care about you")

Mark said...

The precise language was so that families did not feel obliged to attend...

The one who should have stayed the hell away was Joe Biden.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

It been reported that the Taliban offered to let the US control all of Kabul while they were withdrawing and the US turned it down. In addition, I've seen reporters in the Kabul airport stating that the CG at the Kabul airport denied entrance to the airport to seven bus loads of women who are US citizens. If any of this is true then its clear the US military and civilian leadership is shockingly inept and needs replacing. This is what happens when advancement is predicated on ideological conformity and connections. Clearly the "meritocracy" is a myth.

My guess on the missle or drone strike, the Taliban knew the guy was a US contractor and passed disinformation the the US so that they could get them to kill the guy for them.

cubanbob said...

Sadly the families are right. It's a national disgrace.

Iman said...

Like an idiot, Biden is filmed checking his watch at the ceremony.

madAsHell said...

The precise language was so that families did not feel obliged to attend...

The contempt is stunning.

Fewer family members for the NYT to interview, and Joe didn't want to face the victims of his failure.

Up next......another attack on American soil, and INFLATION!!

John henry said...

They're not wrong.

Article III, Section 3, Clause 1 of the Constitution says:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Taliban is the 16th most powerful army in the world, according to one source I saw. If not 16th, it is pretty impressive now with all the ammunition, assault rifles, missliles, helicopters, airplanes, armored vehicles and more that we just gave them.

Why is this not "adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort"? Why is this not "treason"? Why will nobody be punished for it?

There are a lot of people in th military who are culpable but number 1 has to be the commander in chief.

The constitution specifies the punishment for treason and it is not impeachment.

John Henry

tim maguire said...

The obvious question on the minds of everyone here is what Maureen Dowd and her Times compatriots will do with this absolute moral authority.

John henry said...

Partial list of what we left the Taliban:

Scattered in seven Afghan army garrisons across the country, from Kabul and Kandahar to Herat, Mazar-Sharif, Kunduz, these arms depots include an impressive amount of U.S. military hardware: 22,174 armored Humvees, for example, 42 pickup trucks and SUVS, 64,363 machine guns, 162,043 radios. 16,035 night vision goggles, 358,530 assault rifles (the real ones, not the “assault rifles” that Joe Biden warns about at home), 126,295 pistols, and 176 artillery pieces.

And that’s just for starters. The U.S. also generously left behind more than 100 helicopters, including 33 Blackhawks, 4 C-130 transport planes, and some 60 other fixed-wing aircraft.


Anyone think we won't be seeing those again but pointed in our direction?

John Henry

exhelodrvr1 said...

Nothing about Biden checking his watch?

Scot said...

Regrettably, they were permanently separated from active duty service by kinetic military action.

I'm Not Sure said...

'They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security... I blame my own military leaders... Biden turned his back on him. That’s it.'

'her son was getting ready to come home from freaking Jordan [where he was stationed] to be with his wife to watch the birth of his son. And that sackless, dementia-ridden piece of crap just sent my son to die.'

*This* was actually printed in the paper? Oh, wait- it's the LONDON Times. Nevermind.

CarolynnS said...

Do these families have “ultimate moral authority” a la Cindy Sheehan?

hombre said...

“Clasped his right arm to his chest” — except while he was looking at his watch.

Tom Grey said...

100% of blame on Biden's decision to publicly announce a pull-out before a quiet evacuation; 100% for closing Bagram too early; 100% for waiting for a crisis before sending troops to cover the evacuation.

Even in Star Wars, when The Empire Strikes Back (at the Hoth system), they evacuate women and children first. And the military stay to fight against the bad guys.
Stay, fight, kill, die, retreat, fight, kill, die ... repeat until the last ones evacuate.

Possibly more would have died - likely fewer as the Taliban see the American allies leaving, and they can wait. Even for the bad guy Taliban, they'd rather walk in than fight their way in.

Dying while running away without even trying to really fight back feels terrible to most real soldiers.

One could also argue it's 100% blame on the Taliban/ Islamic terrorist bombers (some would say there's a difference).
Of the USA blame, it's all on Biden and his top generals.

Sally327 said...

It does seem as if these Marines, corpsmen and soldier were placed in a more than usual dangerous situation without adequate attention paid to maximizing the possibility of their surviving it. I'm struck by how young they are all were. And how no one of officer status was killed.

RMc said...

freaking Jordan

Look, I know the new "Space Jam" movie sucked, but can we please leave Michael out of this...?

Howard said...

They don't call it the infantry for nothing Sally. Like Beirut 83 the American president has hung the Marines out to dry once again.

Gunner said...

Chance of an American leftist dominated newspaper printing this: 0%

Iman said...

sackless clown-in-chief
feckless reckless just plain dumb
dementia ridden

Iman said...

learned at barry’s knee
pallets of cash are en route
corn pop not amused

Iman said...

joe’s new fave flavor
Taliban Ripple Effect
they drank his milkshake

Greg The Class Traitor said...

I read an interesting comment the other day about the current situation:

When Generals screw up, nothing bad happens to them

When Colonels and below have anything that looks like it could be a screwup, they're crucified.

My own reading of history is that disaffected Colonels and below are the military people who start coups.

So, if a cabal of Colonels tomorrow started a coup against the US government, what would your response be? Would it be "oh my God, we must fight this, then go out and actually fight (as in, with guns, shooting at people)"?

Or would it be "hmm, well, let's see what they do"?

The exclusion of poll watchers, and the shutting down and kicking all observers out election night, while there were still votes to count, means the current Administration has no democratic legitimacy.

The constant f'ups over everything they get their hands on means the current Administration has no "competence" legitimacy.

The fact that the Biden Admin pushed a CDC "Eviction moratorium" that they knew was illegitimate, just in the hope they could get away with it for a while before SCOTUS shut them down means the current Admin has no Constitutional legitimacy (the President swears an auth that he will take care that the laws are faithfully executed).

So, what's the legitimacy that the Biden* Admin would fall back on?

"Twitter legitimacy?"

Mingus Jerry said...

I wonder if these mother's will be treated. by the media and democrats as well as Cindy Sheehan was.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Well, I'm sure Biden has done his best.

Tom T. said...

"Even in Star Wars ... they evacuate women and children first."

I understand the point about evacuating civilians first, but it's worth noting that at least two or three of the dead servicemembers were active-duty women.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

More on the "lack of democratic legitimacy" front:
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2021/08/30/a-stunning-number-of-absentee-ballots-in-dekalb-county-georgia-violated-chain-of-custody-rules-n1474202

To preserve the integrity of ballots cast in an election, Georgia Emergency Rule 183-1-14-1.8-.14 dictated that absentee ballots placed in drop boxes, “shall be immediately transported to the county registrar and processed and stored in the same manner as absentee ballots returned by mail are processed and stored,” and that “The county registrar or a designee thereof shall sign the ballot transfer form upon receipt of the ballots from the collection team.” [Emphasis added]

But according to an analysis of ballot transfer forms by The Georgia Star News, 43,907 of the 61,731 absentee ballots that were put in dropboxes by voters, a whopping 72 percent, violated this rule.

Based on their analysis, 28,194 absentee ballots (46 percent) “were not documented as being received by the elections registrar or the director’s designee until the day after they were collected from the drop box.”

Another 15,713 ballots (26 percent) had “no receipt time recorded at all by the elections office.”
...
Only around 5 percent of the absentee ballots were marked as received within an hour of being collected.

<<<

Try prosecuting a criminal with evidence that has this kind of "chain of custody", and see how far your case goes

Francisco D said...

I was about to make an important comment, but I just looked at my watch and realized that I am late for a more important appointment.

How is that different from Joe Biden?

Well, Joe's not late for an appointment, but for a nap and a nice warm bowl of oatmeal.

I wish I was joking.

Joe Smith said...

'So, if a cabal of Colonels tomorrow started a coup against the US government, what would your response be?'

We're not that lucky...