Special inspector general for Afghanistan
warns the Pentagon is classifying documents
to cover up failures and demands secret
reports on how country collapsed are published now
Posted By: Ribicon, 10/30/2021 11:56:32 AM
A U.S. government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic U.S. troop pullout. John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR), spoke out on Friday after it emerged that many of the routine documents had now been marked as classified. 'The full picture of what happened in August—and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome—will only be revealed if the information that the departments of Defense and State have already restricted from public release is made available,' said Sopko.
people like this.
people like this.
people like this.
people like this.
people like this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "Ribicon"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Most Recent Articles posted by
Ribicon"
American Airlines has continued its streak cancellation over the course of Halloween weekend as a quarter of its scheduled flights—634 of them—were cancelled on Sunday. The airline has blamed weather control issues, such as strong winds from Dallas, and ongoing staff shortages due to lay-offs made when travel cratered at the start of the COVID outbreak. In total, more than 1,500 flights have been axed by the airline since Friday with 738 delays and 342 cancellations, according to FlightAware. On Saturday, 543 flights were cancelled with more than 400 also delayed. 'With additional weather throughout the system, our staffing begins to run tight as crew members end up
A group of LGBTQ Afghans fleeing the Taliban rule have safely arrived in the U.K., British officials said. According to U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, 29 LGBTQ Afghans arrived in Britain on Friday “to start their new lives.” They are the first group to be helped by the British government since the end of the evacuation in late August. Their arrival is “hoped to be the first of many,” officials said in a statement. The news comes just hours after the regime said that it doesn’t plan on respecting LGBTQ rights. Ahmad Wali Haqmal, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban government told Reuters that “LGBT... That’s against our Sharia law.”
President Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin not to weaponise natural resources for political purposes after Russian gas pipeline starting flowing backwards out of Germany. Fuel supplies in the Yamal—Europe pipeline with goes from Russia to Germany via Poland had come to halt on Saturday, with the direction of gas actually reversing. But energy firm Gazprom played down concerns saying that all European orders were being fulfilled.(Snip)Russian troops movements near Ukraine have also caused concern among some US and European intelligence officials, according to the New York Times.
Videos posted on social media show large numbers of tanks and soldiers being moved from Siberia towards Ukraine.
American Airlines has canceled more than 1,000 flights since Friday, disruptions it blamed on staffing problems and high winds at its busiest hub. On Saturday, American canceled nearly 460 flights, or 17% of its mainline schedule, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines cut 86 flights, or 2% of its Saturday operation. American canceled another 285 flights, or 10% of its schedule planned for Sunday, on top of 340 cancellations on Friday.(Snip)Pilot and flight attendant availability were listed as reasons for most of the cancellations on Saturday and Sunday, according to internal tallies, which were seen by CNBC.
The FDNY shut down 26 firehouses across the Big Apple as of 7:30 a.m. Saturday because of staff shortages caused by the vaccination mandate, The Post has learned. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and Brooklyn, tweeted Saturday that five of the companies were in her district—and said it’s Hizzoner who could have blood on his hands. “If someone dies due to a slower emergency response, it’s on Bill de Blasio and his overreaching mandates. I hope this fool fixes it ASAP!” she tweeted.(Snip)
“Twenty six companies out of service is an unconscionable number,” said Councilman Joe Borelli, a Staten Island Republican who chairs
Navy must speed up shipbuilding, modernization
to keep pace with China, Russia at sea,
analysts say 19 replies
to keep pace with China, Russia at sea,
analysts say 19 replies
China and Russia have dramatically accelerated their naval shipbuilding and modernization programs in recent years, while the U.S. has struggled to improve its own capacity for warfighting missions and been tagged with a poor readiness rating from national security analysts. The Chinese have made particularly notable strides, engaging in a maritime buildup that made global headlines a year ago when Pentagon officials sounded the alarm that Beijing’s total fleet roughly 350 warships had surpassed the roughly 300 maintained by Washington.(Snip)“They’ve got a lot of shipyards and a lot of capacity,” says Brent Sadler, a retired U.S. naval officer and analyst with the Heritage Foundation. “They’re building lots of ships.”
JFK's assassin Lee Harvey Oswald trained at a secret CIA camp preparing for an invasion of Cuba, the son of his alleged sniper teacher said. But Ricardo Morales Jr said that trainer—his dad Ricardo Sr—insisted after the November 1963 assassination that there was no way Oswald had the marksmanship to pull off the murder, further bolstering conspiracy theories over the doomed president's death. Morales Jr., 58, of Michigan, told Miami's Actualidad Radio that his father was a contract CIA worker, anti-Castro militant, counter-intelligence chief for Venezuela, FBI informant and drug dealer. Morales Sr went by the nickname 'Monkey', and was among the FBI's most infamous informants.
A U.S. government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic U.S. troop pullout.
John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR), spoke out on Friday after it emerged that many of the routine documents had now been marked as classified. 'The full picture of what happened in August—and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome—will only be revealed if the information that the departments of Defense and State have already restricted from public release is made available,' said Sopko.
A declassified US intelligence report has concluded COVID wasn't developed as a biological weapon—but conceded that coronavirus may well have emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The paper issued by the Director of National Intelligence on Friday elaborates on findings released in August of a 90-day review ordered by President Joe Biden. That review said that U.S. intelligence agencies were divided on the origins of the virus, but that analysts do not believe the virus was developed as a bioweapon, and that most agencies believe the virus was not genetically engineered.(Snip)They added that China's continued obfuscation over COVID—including allegations that the United States itself is responsible
US Border Patrol recorded more migrant deaths on the US southern border in fiscal year 2021 than in any prior year on record, according to data shared by the agency Thursday. There were 557 Southwest border deaths during the fiscal year, which ended September 30. That's up from 254 deaths in fiscal year 2020 and 300 deaths in 2019, marking a significant increase amid a 30-record year for border crossings. The agency data on deaths dates to 1998.
A majority of migrant border deaths have been related to heat exposure, according to the agency.(Snip)Several factors led to the increase in recorded deaths, including more people crossing the border
The mayor of St. Louis did not flinch during a press conference when gunfire erupted nearby, saying she was unfortunately used to it. Mayor Tishaura Jones was speaking to the press on Friday about her and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas' efforts to reduce violent crime following a roundtable discussion about public safety when what sounded like gunfire went off nearby. But Jones did not miss a beat and sarcastically responded 'Oh isn't that wonderful,' before getting back to the topic at hand.(Snip)'Well I hear gunshots in my neighborhood every night,' she said. 'My son and I fall asleep to the lullabies in the distance every night CORRECTION*
Police in Northern Virginia are increasing their presence around shopping malls and high-volume roads and transit areas in response to a purported threat from ISIS. A law enforcement source told CBS News the recent threat against a mall in Northern Virginia this Halloween weekend originated from ISIS. It is the basis for a law enforcement-sensitive alert that was issued. Out of an abundance of caution, Fairfax County’s police chief said his department is ready to respond if the threat materializes. Chief Kevin Davis said he learned of the threat through regional intelligence partners in the last 24 hours. While he wouldn’t describe it in detail,
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Former Vice President Al Gore called on the world to "say goodbye to coal, oil and gas" to fight climate change in a video released Friday ahead of the upcoming UN COP 26 global warming conference. Oil, gas and coal are the source of 79% of U.S. energy consumption, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nuclear energy provides 9% of U.S. energy, while renewable energy accounts for 12%. Gore called on public and private sector leaders to "get real" about immediately reducing greenhouse gas emissions and about moving away from fossil fuels to "clean" energy.
Did Joe Biden Poop Himself While Meeting
Pope Francis At Vatican And What Really
Happened? (Photos) 50 replies
Pope Francis At Vatican And What Really
Happened? (Photos) 50 replies
On Friday, Joe Biden met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Mysteriously, the TV feed was abruptly cut off by officials, and video of Biden speaking with the Pope never made it to viewers. I did happen to see Jack Posobiec’s tweet about the incident on Friday, but I had since long forgotten about it. Biden is making waves on social media again but for all the wrong reasons. Many are wondering whether there is any truth to rumors that Biden had a “bathroom incident” during his meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, causing the hashtag #poopypantsbiden to trend on Twitter.
Let’s be honest, Democrats.
Joe Biden was elected — I will not relitigate the “stolen election” debate in this article — for one reason: to get rid of Donald Trump. Period. The Democrat Party could have nominated a blind, intellectually disabled squirrel, and the results of the 2020 election would not have changed.
But let’s be clear: No one loves Joe Biden.
Moreover, everyone from White House officials to members of Biden’s cabinet to Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill to the sock puppets of the so-called “mainstream” media is terrified every time Corn Pop’s pal opens his mouth — at which time he invariably mumbles something else stupid and/or incoherent.
JFK's assassin Lee Harvey Oswald trained at a secret CIA camp preparing for an invasion of Cuba, the son of his alleged sniper teacher said. But Ricardo Morales Jr said that trainer—his dad Ricardo Sr—insisted after the November 1963 assassination that there was no way Oswald had the marksmanship to pull off the murder, further bolstering conspiracy theories over the doomed president's death. Morales Jr., 58, of Michigan, told Miami's Actualidad Radio that his father was a contract CIA worker, anti-Castro militant, counter-intelligence chief for Venezuela, FBI informant and drug dealer. Morales Sr went by the nickname 'Monkey', and was among the FBI's most infamous informants.
Animal rights organization PETA has called for Major League Baseball to "strike out" the word "bullpen" in favor of "arm barn" because, as the organization claims, the current term is a reference to a "holding area where terrified bulls are kept before slaughter."
"Words matter, and baseball ‘bullpens’ devalue talented players and mock the misery of sensitive animals," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a press release. "PETA encourages Major League Baseball coaches, announcers, players, and fans to changeup their language and embrace the ‘arm barn’ instead." [Tweet]
A declassified US intelligence report has concluded COVID wasn't developed as a biological weapon—but conceded that coronavirus may well have emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The paper issued by the Director of National Intelligence on Friday elaborates on findings released in August of a 90-day review ordered by President Joe Biden. That review said that U.S. intelligence agencies were divided on the origins of the virus, but that analysts do not believe the virus was developed as a bioweapon, and that most agencies believe the virus was not genetically engineered.(Snip)They added that China's continued obfuscation over COVID—including allegations that the United States itself is responsible
Something Big is Coming
31 replies
Dilbert creator Scott Adams tweeted this week: ”The country’s energy is strange. Everything is amped up in every direction. Something big is coming.” He’s rarely wrong about such things.
Adams said he doesn’t know what that something big is, but I’m hoping it is a major shift in America’s political tectonic plates. I may be looking too hard for it, but I, too, feel it in my bones.
Infrastructure Faceplant
For one thing the wacky spending program the Democrats were proposing and fiddling with seems to have hit the shoals, trapped between the far left and the more moderate senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin.
Alec Baldwin said Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins 'was my friend' and revealed he 'took her to dinner with the director' on the first day of shooting when he stopped to talk to photographers in Vermont. Baldwin was with his wife Hilaria, who appeared to be filming the interaction, when the couple pulled over to talk to photographers in Manchester, Vermont.The couple spoke for roughly four minutes. He said: 'A woman died. She was my friend.' 'The day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting, I took her to dinner with Joel, the director,' he said. 'We were a very, very well oiled crew shooting a film together and then
Lindsey Graham breaks with most Republican
colleagues by supporting Biden judicial nominees 30 replies
colleagues by supporting Biden judicial nominees 30 replies
With Democrats controlling the Senate, it comes as no surprise that President Biden has successfully nominated dozens of federal judges, but nearly all of those picks enjoyed the support of a high-profile Republican: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Graham, who until January was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted in favor of all but three of Biden’s picks who have gone before the full Senate for votes. In two of those cases he did not vote at all, and he voted no in just one.
In a political environment that has become highly polarized – particularly when it comes to presidential nominations – Graham’s approach to judicial nominations
First Lady Jill Biden stunned in a sparkly lilac fitted dress by Ralph Lauren at Saturday night's G20 dinner, which took place at the 16th century Quirinale Palace in Rome. The leaders and spouses were split up at the dinner, which was hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella. So Dr. Biden sat next to French President Emmanuel Macron, while President Joe Biden was seated next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Dr. Biden and Macron previously bonded when they represented their respective countries at the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics in July. The first lady and the French president watched several sporting events
Progressive activists showed up to an Arizona wedding officiated by Sen. Krysten Sinema (D) to protest her opposition to Democrats' massive spending plans, prompting the bride and her mother to plead with demonstrators to stop 'ruining' the event.
Sinema was officiating the wedding for her personal friend last weekend when protesters arrived at the venue and began chanting while holding signs that included phrases like, "Sinema Betrays Democrats" and, "We voted for you — shouldn't you vote for us?" according to a video of the event posted to YouTube on Oct. 24.
Sinema spokesperson Hannah Hurley told Tuscon.com in a statement that the senator "officiated a personal friend’s wedding
While Joe Biden was out making a fool of himself in event after event across Europe, Kamala Harris was doing her best to match him back home:
Get a load of her performance out on the campaign trail with Virginia's flailing Democrat gubernatorial candidate, Terry McAuliffe: (Snip for tweet) How embarrassing. Notice that she's getting little response from her crowd, which presumably is a big friendly Democrat-voting crowd.
Why is she doing this?
Quite possibly because she has nothing else to do. Biden didn't seem to invite her to the global warming summit he was heading for in Europe --- the one with 85 cars in his entourage.
Comments:
Why bother? The failures are in full public view for the world to see, General Milley won't lose a single medal, likewise Lloyd Austin. There will be no calls for impeachment, nothing. Laugh it off; old news new, and far greater planned disasters await.