Old joke: I was complaining, and a friend said, “Cheer up, things could be worse.” And sure enough, things got worse. Except that if this actually happens, it’s not funny at all.

• Verified report: In transcript of phone call between Presidents Biden and Macron, White House omits that Macron told Biden that rescuing allied citizens as well as friendly Afghans is a “moral imperative.” Who thinks moral imperatives need to be deleted?
• Unverified report: US commanding general in Kabul told British SAS (Special Forces) officer to stop going out in city to rescue friendlies, because it makes the US look bad. No, general, not going out to rescue friendlies makes us look bad, even if the Brits sat around playing cards. Not doing what we can always looks bad.

Suppose someone set out to make the biggest possible mess of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. What would he do any differently from what is actually being done? If you have to stop and think of an answer, it’s bad. If you can’t think of an answer, it’s worse.

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