Following these events has been pretty brutal this week. It’s an emotional story. It begins with the shock and horror of 9/11 and going to war in 2 countries, one of which has nothing to do with the hunt for Bin Laden. Afghanistan is complex and filled with anguish and 20 years in with the loss of so many, it’s hard to imagine how this was going to end. The war spans 4 presidencies…yet the coverage has been rife with misinformation. As I read this, filled with the horror of losing our brave men and women this week, I am also reminded of all of those young faces I saw at Parris Island 3 plus years ago when we attended the graduation ceremonies for my son. The women’s battalion impressed me the most. Marine Corp training differed than any other. It is 13 weeks with additional survival training months after. They cover land, air and sea. They must maintain their physical fitness throughout their service as first responders. The young men and women were lovely and meeting each graduate was an honor. It hits hard when you get the privilege to witness these ceremonial graduations. They take young people as 18 year olds and mold them into men and women fit to serve. Even if you don’t support the wars, you are hit with the realization that this form of service is like no other. You become a family. Everyone’s son or daughter is now yours. You worry when they are away and worry when they are home. The loss of these marines this week was like a dagger in our hearts. My son knows of one of them men. They tell you at graduation that these men and women will travel the globe and always know a familiar face from their training programs. It’s true. I have a heavy heart for the families. I have a heavier heart over the horrible coverage that ensued and the political points made out of this withdrawal. I am so grateful that my family is safe but I am devastated by those that lost their loved ones. The callousness of Twitter exemplifies that a majority of people don’t understand that the families at home deserve better…and more respect.
Thank you for your diligence email Filey. Your work here is so valuable to those of us who want facts and not bias. It’s a safe place. It’s all here because you took the time from your busy days to help those of us who want facts. It’s a sacrifice I’m certain of. You are an angel. Sending you my blessings. I have been reading this in parts….my brain is so foggy today. ❤️Tamara
So well said. I have had to almost entirely disconnect from television, social media, and the news the last few weeks because I have earnestly found it to be unbearable and painful. The less you know, the more and louder you talked. I decided very early on how it was going to play out, and that it was not going to improve, so the best self care was distance. It proved a wise choice. Thank you again for sharing. Very kind and wise words. xo -Nikki
Thanks for sharing all this info in one spot. I've been pretty upset - pissed - sad about the coverage this past couple of weeks too. But then I remembered I felt the exact same emotions when Bush went from AFGH to Iraq. (I didn't want to go into AFGH but at least I understood why.) Anyway - right before Iraq invasion it was obvious the Bush Admin was lying and the media was gaslighting us. They were so into invading Iraq even Dan Rather admired the "Shock & Awe". None of my friends were as concerned as I. It was lonely. This time the media is still doing their same deference to the war machine & contractors, but my family & friends agree with me. I just stopped watching the people that wanted to keep us there forever. Anyway - when I watched the announcement this afternoon that we were OUT I smiled. I thank God that we are gone & hope that the Taliban fakes being reasonable long enough for us to get Americans, our Afghan Allies and the animals out. War is Over!!
I figured that most would overlook Sec Austin hosting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Defense Andrii Taranto… which is really kind of a big deal too
Pretty exciting if you want to see Putin brought to heal. Or at least a hard tug at his leash. Leave Afghanistan & build up NATO in the same day. That's a good day's work!
43K more people were airlifted out than the original goal for "Operation Airlift." Weeks ago they were saying they were moving "Too slow, and it would be impossible to make the goal of 80K." As the administration met and surpassed the goal, they shifted the goalposts to, "They are moving too fast, why are they in such a hurry, extend the deadline."....and never acknowledged far surpassing the initial goal.
I LOATHE Malcom Nance, BUT I heard him in an interview last night, & he noted the MSM (people like Engel) are being arses b/c they're leaving a 'lifestyle behind,' & he mentioned the movie "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." I watched it again at 3am last night. Bingo! It reminded me how many times the last few weeks Richard has mentioned "The Taliban met w/me & were nice. Perfectly willing to sit down with me."-Engel The MSM is transactional, and there is a segment that has made this 'about them.' It was surreal to get the 'push notification' today (5 minutes before a patient of course) that the "Last plane has left Afghanistan," as we have been there 'almost' half of my life. The reporting on the draw down, the amnesia of 'who' released leaders of the Taliban and 5k members of their forces, very public comments and how they were 'all in' only months ago, I swear Dems are going to Benghazi themselves. I think one of the things that ALWAYS makes me the MOST furious, and there are so many to choose from, as someone who has one of my best friends who has dedicated their lives (26 years) to the foreign services and spends 2 year stints in the most dangerous areas and 'just got home safely' but I can tell you was in MANY more dangerous situations due to the prior guy, and that was because they actually WERE NOT warned at all, and he has no concern for the safety of any of his dedicated 'unelected radical bureaucrats' as he likes to call himself, they all (or from what I gather) breathed a sigh of relief when Biden won.' Biden made the hard choice that someone finally had to do. He took fully responsibility. He sentence that the prior guy never uttered the entire 4 years, or likely his entire time on this earth. .....I digressed from my initial point above, lol...the thing that makes me the MOST furious...you see there are many, lol....is the media always acting like they don't understand 'safety,' and that they are entitled to 'information' BEFORE military moves happen, without thinking 'moves ahead,' safety and repercussions be damned, but then have a 24/7 news cycle when the administration could not BE MORE CLEAR to say GET THE F@CK away from the airport, there are CREDIBLE threats, and the msm says, "How could you let people get hurt when you warned people to stay away due to credible threats and they didn't listen and people got hurt and died?! Why didn't you stop that suicide bomber?!" "Why didn't you stop OANN from telling people to IGNORE you when you told people to stay away when there was a credible threat?" "Why won't you answer Politco when they ask you for the EXACT locations you are going to target and maybe bomb with drones BEFORE you do it, for ISIS-K?! Why won't you?! We have a right to know! Why won't you keep us safe?!" I'm literally done with every single one of them. Let's just start fresh! You in????
The sad part is many will make this a political football —and in DC it’s a full contact bloody sport. But you’re right on the goal post being moved. 123K+ is in fact one of if not the largest evacuations in our Military’s history. That’s something that only our Military in concert with our Allied partners could achieve. I agree that the MSM is entirely transactional. The reality is this 20 year war cost us 2,461 American Military lives. Nearly $2T in expenditures. Tens of thousands of wounded veterans and their families unfortunately bare the brunt of that very heavy burden. The fact is Biden madd a decision between worse, awful and catastrophic. Much will be made of his decision. The inevitability of the Taliban regaining control was a known quantity. It wasn’t a matter of if but when. The Afghanistan Government complete collapse and their leaders fleeing. Well I don’t have anything constructive to say. I do hope that between the UN Security Council and Diplomatic theater we can still get the vulnerable Afghans and Americans out. But my uneducated guess is give it 90 to 120 days and I’ll bet the Taliban we beg for the US Military’s help stamping out IsisK. At which point then the administration has the leverage. But again that’s my opinion and you’re obviously entitled to disagree with me. I won’t take it personally
Following these events has been pretty brutal this week. It’s an emotional story. It begins with the shock and horror of 9/11 and going to war in 2 countries, one of which has nothing to do with the hunt for Bin Laden. Afghanistan is complex and filled with anguish and 20 years in with the loss of so many, it’s hard to imagine how this was going to end. The war spans 4 presidencies…yet the coverage has been rife with misinformation. As I read this, filled with the horror of losing our brave men and women this week, I am also reminded of all of those young faces I saw at Parris Island 3 plus years ago when we attended the graduation ceremonies for my son. The women’s battalion impressed me the most. Marine Corp training differed than any other. It is 13 weeks with additional survival training months after. They cover land, air and sea. They must maintain their physical fitness throughout their service as first responders. The young men and women were lovely and meeting each graduate was an honor. It hits hard when you get the privilege to witness these ceremonial graduations. They take young people as 18 year olds and mold them into men and women fit to serve. Even if you don’t support the wars, you are hit with the realization that this form of service is like no other. You become a family. Everyone’s son or daughter is now yours. You worry when they are away and worry when they are home. The loss of these marines this week was like a dagger in our hearts. My son knows of one of them men. They tell you at graduation that these men and women will travel the globe and always know a familiar face from their training programs. It’s true. I have a heavy heart for the families. I have a heavier heart over the horrible coverage that ensued and the political points made out of this withdrawal. I am so grateful that my family is safe but I am devastated by those that lost their loved ones. The callousness of Twitter exemplifies that a majority of people don’t understand that the families at home deserve better…and more respect.
Thank you for your diligence email Filey. Your work here is so valuable to those of us who want facts and not bias. It’s a safe place. It’s all here because you took the time from your busy days to help those of us who want facts. It’s a sacrifice I’m certain of. You are an angel. Sending you my blessings. I have been reading this in parts….my brain is so foggy today. ❤️Tamara
I don’t even know why I’m sobbing but I am.
❤️❤️❤️ Me too….for so many reasons. I love you Filey!
Lurves you back 😘😍😘
So well said. I have had to almost entirely disconnect from television, social media, and the news the last few weeks because I have earnestly found it to be unbearable and painful. The less you know, the more and louder you talked. I decided very early on how it was going to play out, and that it was not going to improve, so the best self care was distance. It proved a wise choice. Thank you again for sharing. Very kind and wise words. xo -Nikki
Thanks for sharing all this info in one spot. I've been pretty upset - pissed - sad about the coverage this past couple of weeks too. But then I remembered I felt the exact same emotions when Bush went from AFGH to Iraq. (I didn't want to go into AFGH but at least I understood why.) Anyway - right before Iraq invasion it was obvious the Bush Admin was lying and the media was gaslighting us. They were so into invading Iraq even Dan Rather admired the "Shock & Awe". None of my friends were as concerned as I. It was lonely. This time the media is still doing their same deference to the war machine & contractors, but my family & friends agree with me. I just stopped watching the people that wanted to keep us there forever. Anyway - when I watched the announcement this afternoon that we were OUT I smiled. I thank God that we are gone & hope that the Taliban fakes being reasonable long enough for us to get Americans, our Afghan Allies and the animals out. War is Over!!
You gave me goosebumps and I cried tears of joy when I read about this. What a tremendous feat President Biden has accomplished.
I figured that most would overlook Sec Austin hosting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Defense Andrii Taranto… which is really kind of a big deal too
Pretty exciting if you want to see Putin brought to heal. Or at least a hard tug at his leash. Leave Afghanistan & build up NATO in the same day. That's a good day's work!
43K more people were airlifted out than the original goal for "Operation Airlift." Weeks ago they were saying they were moving "Too slow, and it would be impossible to make the goal of 80K." As the administration met and surpassed the goal, they shifted the goalposts to, "They are moving too fast, why are they in such a hurry, extend the deadline."....and never acknowledged far surpassing the initial goal.
I LOATHE Malcom Nance, BUT I heard him in an interview last night, & he noted the MSM (people like Engel) are being arses b/c they're leaving a 'lifestyle behind,' & he mentioned the movie "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." I watched it again at 3am last night. Bingo! It reminded me how many times the last few weeks Richard has mentioned "The Taliban met w/me & were nice. Perfectly willing to sit down with me."-Engel The MSM is transactional, and there is a segment that has made this 'about them.' It was surreal to get the 'push notification' today (5 minutes before a patient of course) that the "Last plane has left Afghanistan," as we have been there 'almost' half of my life. The reporting on the draw down, the amnesia of 'who' released leaders of the Taliban and 5k members of their forces, very public comments and how they were 'all in' only months ago, I swear Dems are going to Benghazi themselves. I think one of the things that ALWAYS makes me the MOST furious, and there are so many to choose from, as someone who has one of my best friends who has dedicated their lives (26 years) to the foreign services and spends 2 year stints in the most dangerous areas and 'just got home safely' but I can tell you was in MANY more dangerous situations due to the prior guy, and that was because they actually WERE NOT warned at all, and he has no concern for the safety of any of his dedicated 'unelected radical bureaucrats' as he likes to call himself, they all (or from what I gather) breathed a sigh of relief when Biden won.' Biden made the hard choice that someone finally had to do. He took fully responsibility. He sentence that the prior guy never uttered the entire 4 years, or likely his entire time on this earth. .....I digressed from my initial point above, lol...the thing that makes me the MOST furious...you see there are many, lol....is the media always acting like they don't understand 'safety,' and that they are entitled to 'information' BEFORE military moves happen, without thinking 'moves ahead,' safety and repercussions be damned, but then have a 24/7 news cycle when the administration could not BE MORE CLEAR to say GET THE F@CK away from the airport, there are CREDIBLE threats, and the msm says, "How could you let people get hurt when you warned people to stay away due to credible threats and they didn't listen and people got hurt and died?! Why didn't you stop that suicide bomber?!" "Why didn't you stop OANN from telling people to IGNORE you when you told people to stay away when there was a credible threat?" "Why won't you answer Politco when they ask you for the EXACT locations you are going to target and maybe bomb with drones BEFORE you do it, for ISIS-K?! Why won't you?! We have a right to know! Why won't you keep us safe?!" I'm literally done with every single one of them. Let's just start fresh! You in????
The sad part is many will make this a political football —and in DC it’s a full contact bloody sport. But you’re right on the goal post being moved. 123K+ is in fact one of if not the largest evacuations in our Military’s history. That’s something that only our Military in concert with our Allied partners could achieve. I agree that the MSM is entirely transactional. The reality is this 20 year war cost us 2,461 American Military lives. Nearly $2T in expenditures. Tens of thousands of wounded veterans and their families unfortunately bare the brunt of that very heavy burden. The fact is Biden madd a decision between worse, awful and catastrophic. Much will be made of his decision. The inevitability of the Taliban regaining control was a known quantity. It wasn’t a matter of if but when. The Afghanistan Government complete collapse and their leaders fleeing. Well I don’t have anything constructive to say. I do hope that between the UN Security Council and Diplomatic theater we can still get the vulnerable Afghans and Americans out. But my uneducated guess is give it 90 to 120 days and I’ll bet the Taliban we beg for the US Military’s help stamping out IsisK. At which point then the administration has the leverage. But again that’s my opinion and you’re obviously entitled to disagree with me. I won’t take it personally
On this I 100% agree with you - it’s not at all over