Tag: The Post Mortem

Afghanistan only the latest US war to be driven by deceit and delusion

Many brave, honorable Afghans fought there, but the cohesion and commitment, the belief in their mission, was not there. By contrast, the Taliban were organized, dedicated and coherent, and armed and trained for the actual combat taking place, not for European-style trench and tank warfare. The Taliban clearly had a plan that worked for that country, as the speed of the takeover shows. It succeeded; the U.S. and the Kabul regime failed in what became mission impossible. The fall of Kabul was inevitable. Washington, once again, deluded itself into thinking otherwise. The secretary of state said, “This is not Saigon.” It is Saigon. It is Baghdad. It is Kabul.

Source: Afghanistan only the latest US war to be driven by deceit and delusion

Q&A reaction: Mathias Cormann concedes Coalition was ‘in a more competitive position’ when Malcolm Turnbull knifed

Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann

Corman now agrees with Turnbull again but still blames him for the coup?( ODT}

Senator Cormann blamed Mr Turnbull for calling a “surprise” leadership ballot on Tuesday August 21, essentially sealing his own fate by revealing a high degree of support (35 votes) for Mr Dutton.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann – whose shift in support was crucial in the coup against former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull – has conceded the Coalition had improved its electoral position just before his colleagues knifed their leader.

Senator Cormann said he had not seen internal party polling showing the Coalition ahead 52 to 48 in key marginal seats – polling Mr Turnbull revealed in his appearance on the ABC’s Q&A program on Thursday night.

via Q&A reaction: Mathias Cormann concedes Coalition was ‘in a more competitive position’ when Malcolm Turnbull knifed