September 2021

Afghanistan and Fox News

I wasn't hearing many people defending our role in Afghanistan before Biden announced he was pulling out. Now suddenly you would think it was fighting the Nazis during World War II. This chorus is led by Fox News, which previously hardly mentioned Afghanistan and is now broadcasting daily lamentations of unlimited sadness.

China getting angry at Sweden

Sweden's leading newspaper notes there have been over 20 times in the last year when the Chinese ambassador has written strong or threatening messages to Swedish journalists and politicians. A Swedish journalist who partly reports from China has been told he will "suffer the consequences" if the reporting continues. As the newspaper notes, this is from a country constantly warning against others interfering in China's "internal affairs."

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Why are people leaving Hong Kong?

A letter to the South China Morning Post comments on statement by China rep in Hong Kong that people aren't leaving the city for the UK because of the national security law. "Is it because people are attracted by Britain’s higher tax regime? Is it because Britain has such exquisite culinary delights as toad in the hole and spotted duck? Is it because the cramped and largely non-air-conditioned London Underground is a much more pleasant form of transport than the MTR? Is it because a predominantly English-speaking country is easier to navigate when Cantonese is one’s mother tongue...

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Princeton diversity meeting on Yom Kippur

The Princeton Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be holding its welcome lunch for students on Yom Kippur. Thank you for your inclusiveness.

Covid and Republican voting

Of the ten states with the highest per capita covid infection rates, 9 voted Republican for president last year.

 

“Chaotic” withdrawal from Afghanistan?

I am not impressed by the sniping at the Biden administration and Afghanistan. We have gotten all but 200 US citizens who wanted to leave out. Some were walked to the airport by US officials. We sent out over 30,000 emails to US citizens about leaving. I guess the strongest critical argument i am hearing is that we should have pre-planned the evacuation longer, maybe not announced a pullout until planned. But am not sure what "advance planning" would have meant -- practical thoughts...

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