Beltway Insider: Biden/Kabul/ISIS Attack, Hochul, COVID/Vaccine Totals, RFK Killer, Charlie Watts

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President Biden addressed the nation this week after thirteen soldiers were murdered when an Islamic State suicide bomber detonated at Kabul airport killing more than 170 and sending a clear message of revival of international terrorism.

 

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending August 29, 2021, decreased by 2.2% to 47.2% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.7% percentage points to 46.9%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.


 

Beltway Insider: Biden/Afghanistan, Theranos Scam, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Boosters, School Begins


ISIS Militants Attack Kabul Airport

The Islamic State's Pakistani and Afghanistan arm known as, ISIS-Khorasan, carried out a suicide attack this week at Kabul Airport where evacuation has continued to commence, killing 13 United States Military Troops and more than 150 Afghani civilians.

President Biden addressed the nation responding to the attack, "The lives we lost today were lives given in the service of liberty, the service of security, in the service of others, in the service of America. Like their fellow brothers and sisters in arms who died defending our vision and our values in the struggle against terrorism of — the fallen this day, they're part of a great and noble company of American heroes."

The attack followed a week of chaotic images and disruption in the withdrawal as scenes from Kabul showed horrified Afghani's clinging to wheels of C130s hoping to somehow find an escape route from the dreaded approach of the Taliban who in blitzkrieg style had overtaken nearly 70% of the country.

As the evacuations stopped, pleas from media agencies and business organizations to provide safe passage for those trapped inside Afghanistan brought definitive support from the White House as the president remained adamant reiterating that all Americans who wanted to leave would be evacuated.

As evacuation resumed, a member of the ISIS-K branch dove into a group of people at the Kabul abbey Gate and detonated an explosive belt.

"The target selected by ISIS was central to American military life in Kabul even before the evacuation effort. The Abbey Gate, on the southern side of the airport, has been used as a central entrance for U.S. forces and other visitors for years," The Washington Post reported.

Chaos, Confusion, Blood and Bodies

The blast proved to be the bloodiest day in more than a decade for the U.S. Military as they gathered near the Abbey gate to resume evacuation duties and essentially, while armed were not in battle gear as they were preforming necessary administrative duties to facilitate the resumed evacuation efforts.

Video has surfaced showing piles of blood saturated bodies, some intact and others not, shown briefly, for three seconds, on a Yahoo news video.

"The fallen service members are Marines Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cp. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Navy Hospitalman Max Soviak, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss," Foxnews.com reported.

The U.S. Military Commanders have continued to ensure no U.S. Military Intelligence, or any Intelligence of any kind, that has passed through the Kabul Central Intelligence Community headquarters, code named Eagle Base, will ever reach the Taliban.

"A controlled detonation was used to blow up Eagle Base, where counterterrorism forces of Afghanistan's intelligence agencies were trained, resulting in an explosion heard throughout Kabul just hours after a deadly suicide blast outside the airport. The CIA declined to comment to the Washington Examiner on the report, which said blowing up the Kabul compound was meant to destroy equipment and documents, so they do not come into the possession of the Taliban," Yahoonews.com reported.


World News: U.S. Troop Withdrawal Proves Afghan People are Expendable


Republican Reactions

Republicans, who have also become weary of the long-drawn out war in Afghanistan, have voiced criticism over the President's handling of the withdrawal which many see as disoriented.

"Republicans in Congress cited the attack as another indication of what they say is a poorly executed withdrawal strategy even as some agreed with the overall decision to get out of the country. "An embarrassing spectacle, a diplomatic humiliation and a national security catastrophe," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.)." The Washington Post reported.

Biden Responds to Terrorist, Anti-American Activists

President Biden responded to the attack vowing retribution for the attack, "To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive.  We will not forget.  We will hunt you down and make you pay.  I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command," he said in a televised speech.

Perception Bias

Perception bias, an analysis assessment procedure, rarely employed by the Intelligence Community remains a critical component in misjudging the determination of enemies of the United States, from within and non-state actors.

The recent Islamic State attack at Kabul International Airport, should be considered a definitive statement of resurgence and the resumption of international terrorism. The passion or determination of the Islamic State and the Taliban, while based in distorted religion interpretation, surges at each victory. The militaristic power of the United States continues to contribute to judgment errors which are seen throughout the many military battles.

The Tet Offensive in Vietnam, which blindsided the U.S. commanding forces as it occurred during the Vietnamese New Year. Over the past 40 years the United States has allowed itself to be vulnerable by failing to think like the enemy, developing passion like the enemy, understanding the determination of the enemy which also means the enemy will violate convictions, principles, codes, and beliefs.

President Biden said, during his televised speech, "As I've said 100 times: Terrorism has metastasized around the world; we have greater threats coming out of other countries a heck of a lot closer to the United States,"

Perception bias fails to consider the enemy on an even playing field and fails to factor the consuming passion of annihilating the enemy, which in the case of the Taliban and the Islamic State are western countries, and philosophies.

"A consuming passion is the last thing you think about before you go to bed at night and the first thing you think about when you wake up," says Brian Schwartz, author of the award-winning 50 Interviews series. "It feels like an addiction, and if someone told you to stop, it would be impossible for you to give it up." Schwartz explains that those who have been lucky enough to recognize and pursue their passion(s) don't really care if they are getting paid to do it or not. It's a part of their purpose," Psychology Today reported.

Taliban Resurgence

As the United States announced its timeline of military withdrawal of all forces, immediately the panic of the Afghani people incapacitated them and the fear of the Taliban with its hardline rule, hatred of women, education, and freedom, overwhelmed them to the point that if they were defenseless, possibly in a passive aggressive hope, the United States would witness the need and extend their stay.

The Taliban, who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, have emerged stronger, more determined, to suppress the people as they institute laws based on religious misconception. The recent ban on music, resulted in the murder a popular folk singer, Fawad Andarabi, who was dragged from his home and shot.

"It's not only music that the Taliban intends to crack down on. According to India Today, female voices on TV and radio channels have also been outlawed," Business Insider reported.

The tactics implemented by the Taliban mirror Adolf Hitler's attack against German Jews.

Vaccine Totals

Bloomberg.com has built a vaccine tracker which can be seen here. "In the U.S., 368 million doses have been given so far. In the last week, an average of 889,615 doses per day were administered," Bloomberg.com reported.

Coronavirus Totals

While the infection rates of the coronavirus have continued to decline around the world. A new strain, a mutation, has created global concern for leaders around the world are determining the best direction for the protection of the population. The importance of maintaining personal protective practices is imperative to controlling the spread.

For the week ending August 29, 2021, coronavirus cases globally increased by 4,475,897 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases worldwide to 215,960,677 people with a total worldwide death toll of 4,492,423 deaths, a weekly death rate increase of 68,680. (Data from The New York Times).

COVID US Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the week ending August 29, 2021, the total confirmed cases rose to 38,830,051 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 2,146,023 with a seven-day average of 306,574 cases per day nearly double from the past week. The coronavirus has claimed 637,077 total deaths, adding 8,966 more deaths to the total of lives lost due to the coronavirus. (Data from The New York Times).

Kathy Hochul Sworn in as New York State Governor

New York State has entered a new era, as former Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the first female governor in the state's history replacing former governor Andrew Cuomo who exited under a cloud of allegations of sexual misconduct.

"Today for the first time in New York history a woman will enter that arena as governor," Hochul said. "I have the confidence and courage to lead New York forward and make New York's women proud. I have the confidence to lead New York forward and I'm ready to be bloodied and marred in the fight to do what's right," she added," The New York Daily News reported.

Hochul, a career politician, who also served in the House of Representatives, has announced she will run for the governor's seat in 2022.


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Resigns


Hurricane Ida, A Cat 4, Slams into New Orleans

Hurricane Ida intensified over the warm gulf waters surging in power with sustained winds of 156mph, dissipated slightly slamming the Louisiana coastline with an expected landfall  near New Orleans with wind speeds of 125mph.

"The hurricane center predicted the peak storm surge could reach 10 feet to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) along the Louisiana coast, with a possible surge of 7 to 11 feet (2.1 to 3.4 meters) in the New Orleans area. The storm's track put New Orleans on the eastern side — often called the dirty side — which generally sees much more significant effects than the western side," The Associated Press reported.

If projections hold landfall and timeline will coincide with the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 mega-storm which breeched the protective levees surrounding the city and catastrophic storm surge flooded the ninth ward, killing 1800 people and costing more than $170 billion in damage.

Sirhan Sirhan, RFK Killer, Granted Parole

Sirhan Sirhan, 77, convicted in the 1968 murder of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was granted parole this week, over the protests of six of the former democratic presidential candidate children.

"Given today's unexpected recommendation by the California parole board after 15 previous decisions to deny release, we feel compelled to make our position clear. We adamantly oppose the parole and release of Sirhan Sirhan and are shocked by a ruling that we believe ignores the standards for parole of a confessed, first-degree murderer in the state of California," the statement from Joseph P. Kennedy II, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy said," reported Newsweek.

The California parole panel agreed to grant the request, which does not necessarily equate to his release. The decision will be reviewed by the California parole board in the next 90 days and California Governor Gavin Newsom will eventually make the final decision to approve or override the parole board's decision.


Charlie Watts, Drummer for The Rolling Stones, Dies


Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stone Drummer, Dead at 80

Charlie Watts, the famed drummer for The Rolling Stones, died this week from complications arising from an earlier medical condition. He was 80.

Fans and colleagues took to social media paying tribute to the gentleman drummer, who was remember for his love of music, his jazz roots and swing, and his distinctive taste in fashion.

The Rolling Stones had announced earlier in August, the 13 date United States No Filter tour, interrupted by the coronavirus would resume, with drummer, longtime understudy and member of Keith Richard's Expensive Wino's band, Steve Jordan, would be filling in for the then ailing Watts.

Watts is survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley, a daughter and two grandchildren.

For more information on President Joe Biden www.whitehouse.gov.

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