What a Mess

I’m reading some news stories of the day when I am reminded of a bike ride I took several years ago. I was a rookie in many respects, and in comparison to the two guys I hoped to ride with.

On this day, riding an older bike as I recall, I was promptly told to skip this ride. I wasn’t ready. My equipment — tires — were not safe.

So how’s that tie in with current events? Don’t stage an event you’re not prepared for.

The American people were shocked to learn President Biden apparently made a decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. The shock for many to get the implied message of wheels up at 0700 or else. No, I don’t have frontline reports. What I have observed is the news stations more unified than any recent time.

To be clear, few people doubt this has become a conflict with an ambiguous goal. As the event of 911 unfolded, now approaching 20 years ago, questions developed of the enemy found in other parts of the East, and of weapons of mass destruction.

So, when people sit in their easy chairs and point fingers at “ridiculous conspiracy theories” about the election, I’m thinking back to how many people bought the idea that the Benghazi attack was the result of a YouTube parody, and of the WMDs appearing and disappearing like time travel.

But for now the question is why the sudden exodus, and one with such a high level of doublespeak. President Biden has said he stands by his decision, that the Taliban is not harassing or assaulting people trying to get out. Meanwhile other sources talk about door to door searches, and the Taliban is saying we have until Aug. 31. So now the President is reportedly, as of Aug. 25, negotiating the exodus of remaining Americans and American supporters. Since then, we have lost at least 13 soldiers to a suicide bomb attack.

Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have an exit plan before initiating said exit? Why would the leader of the operation allow rumors, if they are rumors, of the government charging each person evacuated? From the bleachers, the exit has the appearance of something between surrender and poor planning.

So the question is how many are paying attention to events in our proverbial front yard, and the yard across the world? How many are comfortable with social platforms being told they are responsible for content, then directly censoring comments, including those defined as “misleading”? How many are willing to shake the fence to awaken the numb?

Yes, there are many things the average citizen doesn’t know about military decisions. However, what has played out on the public stage is the American leadership bowing to a secondary enemy. They are, also, justification for keeping a strong defense.

We do indeed have a mess. The question is do we want change enough to go through the house cleaning. When a doctor takes a scab off of a wound, he wants to know what is under it. He wants to know true healing is taking place. He knows it will sting a little, but the assurance of improvement is worth the pain.

Maybe it is time we face the pain of exploring the infection socially and politically. As in medicine, the longer we wait, the more aggressive the treatment.