Streetwise Professor

August 20, 2021

America’s Back, Baby!

Filed under: History,Military,Politics — cpirrong @ 12:12 pm

Those of you not in a memory care facility (so this perhaps does not apply to Joe Biden) remember the hysteria over Trump’s treatment of Nato. Yes, Trump rhetorically bashed Nato nations repeatedly for their utter failure to live up to their commitments on defense spending, and their perpetual free riding on the US. Yeah–I’m looking at you, Germany. How are those broomsticks working? But even though he spoke truth, truth was apparently undiplomatic. And we can’t have that! So one of the “elite’s” key briefs against Trump was his disrespect for our allies: Biden, they assured us, would treat them with respect and that would advance our collective interests.

When Biden won, he went about preening that “America is back” and that he would restore the alliances Trump had allegedly ruptured. The Europeans panted for a Biden presidency, and rejoiced at its arrival.

How’s that working out for you?

When shit got real and the chips were down, Biden totally shtupped Nato allies, whom you might know have suffered over 1,100 KIA in Afghanistan over the years (about 1/2 of US military personnel losses).

He failed to inform Nato allies what he was doing. In particular, the UK–the US’s most reliable and longstanding ally–was completely left out of the loop. When UK PM Boris Johnson frantically attempted to reach Biden, Joe didn’t answer the phone. Maybe he was washing his hair (plugs).

Even now, when coordination on the ground with allies in Afghanistan is paramount, there is precious little of it.

Joe decided to bug out–and not tell anybody about it, most notably the allies that he had so sanctimoniously claimed to have rescued from the clutches of the demon Trump.

How’s that for respect?

Deeds, not words, matter. A western elite that clutched pearls and collapsed on fainting couches over mean tweets that happened to drop truth bombs got exactly what it asked for. A man who mouthed meaningless pieties and cut and ran and left the elite in the lurch when it mattered.

The ranks of the soi disant elite is a target rich environment, but a few stand out. One is alleged conservative Bill Kristol. Search Twitter “@BillKristol trump nato” and you will find numerous tweets by this fat tub of goo armchair warrior excoriating Trump for being a meanie to Nato. This is my favorite:

Chaotically. Oh the irony is too much. You had no idea about what true chaos is, you neocon (emphasis on the “con”) knob. We’re seeing it now–because we got what you and so many of your “elite” ilk begged for.

The elite sowed the wind with their hysteria over Trump’s bumptiousness with American allies. They are reaping the whirlwind with their boy Biden’s utter betrayal of selfsame allies.

Actually, all of us are reaping the whirlwind–including those (unlike Bill Kristol et al) who realized that Biden was an incompetent and amoral windbag who would wreak havoc, like some evil version of Mr. Magoo.

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8 Comments »

  1. Another good question (yeah, I know): here.

    Comment by Tatyana — August 20, 2021 @ 12:21 pm

  2. A bit hard on Mr Magoo. Still, it’s better than being too harsh on Chauncey Gardiner.

    Comment by dearieme — August 20, 2021 @ 3:05 pm

  3. What if the destruction of America’s reputation was the intention?
    And the reaction to the virus? What if the destruction of America’s economy was the intention?

    Comment by nb — August 20, 2021 @ 3:26 pm

  4. @dearieme–I said an evil version of Mr. Magoo. Both leave a trail of disaster and chaos in their wake–that they clearly have in common. The real Mr. Magoo is lovable. His evil twin Joe Magoo is not.

    Comment by cpirrong — August 20, 2021 @ 6:36 pm

  5. @nb–It’s hard to reject that hypothesis (classical statistics). As a Bayesian, my posteriors have moved strongly in that direction as the evidence accumulates, and contrary data are lacking.

    Comment by cpirrong — August 20, 2021 @ 6:37 pm

  6. Love your work, but quoting Bill fucking Kristol..?!!

    What’s a reliably misinformed douchebag got to do to get discredited around here?

    Comment by Huskynut — August 22, 2021 @ 12:41 am

  7. I unreservedly apologise and withdraw.. you were quoting Kristol in precisely the way he deserves!

    “fat tub of goo” is perhaps too generous, but still beautifully delivered.

    Comment by Huskynut — August 22, 2021 @ 12:44 am

  8. @Huskynut. I quote only to mock.

    Comment by cpirrong — August 22, 2021 @ 7:01 pm

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