There's a deep desire to tie this decision to the long-term costs and conduct of the war, so Biden looks like a strong man making hard choices. But this was a new decision, made by a new Administration, entirely on their own terms. And they chose not only xenophobia, but cynicism
-
Show this thread
-
Bear in mind that even under the original projections for withdrawal (that anticipated Kabul holding out for a few months), evacuation by US forces was impossible from most of the country. And when panic set in, the State Department literally burned applicants' passports.
4 replies 6 retweets 55 likesShow this thread -
This was not the US being overtaken by events, or making the best of a bad hand, or even a failure of planning. It was a deliberate policy choice by the President, to whom keeping Afghans out of the United States trumped any moral or legal responsibility to our staunchest allies
1 reply 14 retweets 79 likesShow this thread -
All I'm asking people to do is clear the bar for intellectual honesty set by Trump on this question. He called these places shithole countries and made it as hard as possible for people living there to get to America. Same policy as Biden, except without the cant and sanctimony.
1 reply 5 retweets 71 likesShow this thread -
The United States painted the faces of the Afghan Girls' Robotics team on their embassy wall in Kabul, called them the Afghan Dreamers, used them as a political prop under three presidents, and wont't let them get on a plane. They're begging Canada now. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/16/afghan-girls-robotics-team-kabul-airport-trapped-rescue/ …pic.twitter.com/ezenVx3AyO
4 replies 188 retweets 319 likesShow this thread -
A good rule of thumb is that if a US government labels you "Dreamers" in any context, run and hide as fast as your legs can take you.
1 reply 22 retweets 150 likesShow this thread -
I hope the Afghan Girls' Robotics team can make it to safety and will accept my death in the pincers of their future killbot army with equanimity. We had it coming.
1 reply 4 retweets 78 likesShow this thread -
When these Afghan girls wanted to come to the US to take part in a robotics competition, it was Trump who cut through the red tape and found a way to let them in (They were denied visas for fears they might stay). Biden won't do as much to save their lives https://www.fox5dc.com/news/afghan-girls-robotics-team-arrives-in-us-just-in-time-for-competition …pic.twitter.com/TkPXq77ZB3
1 reply 8 retweets 62 likesShow this thread -
The bipartisan bigotry against Central Asian muslims runs so deep that the US won't even act in its self-interest and cherry-pick a cohort of the most educated, promising Afghan young people, whose contribution would be massive, to allow in. That is a deep commitment to fear.
4 replies 37 retweets 148 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @Pinboard @BeijingPalmer
A deep commitment to white supremacy
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
I don't think that's the case. Different mechanisms drive American xenophobia.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.