Peter Bergen is CNN's national security analyst, a vice president at New America and a professor of practice at Arizona State University. Bergen's new paperback is "The Rise and fall of Osama bin Laden." from which this article is, in part, adapted. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) In 1961, after a CIA-backed invasion of Cuba failed spectacularly, President John F. Kennedy said of the Bay of Pigs fiasco, "Victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan." Peter Bergen Last week, President Joe Biden took a victory lap when he announced that the US had tracked down and killed its most wanted terrorist, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was living in a house in Kabul, Afghanistan. Don't expect a similar celebration on August 30, the first anniversary of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended the longest war in American history. Any realistic assessment of that action shows that it … [Read more...] about Opinion: Biden’s Afghanistan exit decision looks even worse a year later
President john kennedy
Central Planning Fails Just As Much When Conservatives Are the Planners
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s a popular narrative on the Left at the moment to say that members of the Right have an unhealthy disdain for “experts.” Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell is a notable critic on the matter, but the view here is that her criticism misses the mark. Reasonable members of the Right don’t loathe experts as much as they dislike central control. Reducing all of this to the absurd, let’s imagine for fun that the smartest individual in the United States is none other than our President, Joe Biden. In a nation populated by geniuses, Biden sitting at the top in terms of intelligence wouldn’t alter a simple truth frequently ignored by the expert reverent: there’s arguably not a fraction yet conceived that could properly convey how small Biden’s knowledge would be relative to the collective knowledge of the American people. All of which hopefully explains why markets always and everywhere beat central planning. It’s … [Read more...] about Central Planning Fails Just As Much When Conservatives Are the Planners
Reagan and the fall of Marcos, 1986
Ronald and Nancy Reagan were personal friends of Ferdinand Sr. and Imelda Marcos. In 1969, then California Gov. Reagan attended the opening of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In 1982, the Reagans hosted the Marcoses at the White House. Their friendship ended in 1986 after the Marcoses sought Reagan’s intervention to keep them in power. When the US recognized Corazon Aquino as president of the Philippines, nagsolian ng kandila (they returned candles). The Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California made Reagan’s Daily Diaries for the years 1981 to 1989 accessible online. Entries relevant to Philippine history begin on the weekend of Feb. 22-23, 1986: “It started snowing Sat[urday] afternoon & by Sunday morning we had several inches of new snow. I got some homework done but also had conf[erence] calls re[garding] the Philippine situation. On Sun[day] morning I approved a letter from me to Marcos begging him not to resort to force. His Defense minister [Juan Ponce … [Read more...] about Reagan and the fall of Marcos, 1986
Editor Daily Rundown: Joe Biden Deeply Unpopular With Voters
BIDEN DEEPLY UNPOPULAR WITH VOTERS… WSJ: Biden, Democrats Lose Ground on Key Issues, WSJ Poll Finds WASHINGTON—President Biden and his fellow Democrats have lost ground to Republicans on several of the issues most important to voters, a new Wall Street Journal poll finds, a troubling sign for the party seeking to extend its controlling majority of Congress for another two years. The new survey showed that 57% of voters remained unhappy with Mr. Biden’s job performance, despite favorable marks for the president’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a recent State of the Union speech, which provided him an opportunity to directly speak to millions of Americans. Just 42% said they approved of Mr. Biden’s performance in office, which was virtually unchanged from the previous Journal poll in mid-November. Meanwhile, Democratic advantages narrowed over Republicans on issues related to improving education and the Covid-19 response. A 16-percentage-point Democratic edge … [Read more...] about Editor Daily Rundown: Joe Biden Deeply Unpopular With Voters
ASK IRA: Can Heat do an offseason deal without dealing Tyler Herro?
Q: We know the general asking price of Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. Seems like the Heat will part with Tyler Herro and not Bam Adebayo. So assuming we strike out on those, what’s the potential asking price of Myles Turner, John Collins, or even Kyrie Irving? Will Herro still be required, or is a first and Duncan Robinson enough? – John, Ocala. A: First, I do not believe the Heat would have any intention of aggressively moving for Kyrie Irving, not even on the level of Tyler Herro. As for others, yes, I believe Tyler likely would have to be put in play, considering he is the Heat’s most attractive asset of those most likely to be moved. With Tyler eligible for a max-scale extension up to the start of the season, it basically comes down to dual assessments by the Heat: Is Tyler more valuable as a trade asset than a roster asset? And is he more valuable under long-term contract here or elsewhere? And that latter element also is significant when it comes to a potential trade … [Read more...] about ASK IRA: Can Heat do an offseason deal without dealing Tyler Herro?
Promoting The Free Economy In Brazil
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Latin America is going bad – very bad. Many of the region's large economies have lurched toward leftist populism in recent years. With the election of former guerrilla leader Gustavo Petro to the presidency, Colombia seems to be another victim of the trend. But for such leftists, the big prize is still to be captured: Brazil. With almost half of South America's economy and population and bordering ten countries, what happens in Brazil is always relevant for the Americas and the world. The country's upcoming presidential election is a case in point. The two leading candidates, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro, both have plenty of detractors. Local and foreign media cover their campaigns and road to the election. There is seldom coverage of those who work outside the political party system to try to influence Brazil's future. I want to highlight some of them here. I will only focus on non-religious organizations … [Read more...] about Promoting The Free Economy In Brazil
‘You Have Martyred Donald Trump’: CNN Guest Rips Mar-A-Lago Raid
The Monday raid on Mar-a-Lago carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation could end up making former President Donald Trump a “martyr,” a CNN guest said Monday night. “If you don’t convict Donald Trump now, you have martyred Donald Trump,” Scott Jennings, a former aide in the George W. Bush administration, told “Anderson Cooper 360” guest host John Berman. “You have basically guaranteed him the nomination for the Republican Party in 2024, and you’re going to give him a big weapon to go after Joe Biden or, you know, whatever Democrat emerges in 2024 if they don’t convict him.” (RELATED: ‘Think About What They Could Do To You’: Lara Trump Issues Dire Warning To American Public After Mar-a-Lago Raid) WATCH: “I mean, they’ve raided the guy’s house,” Jennings continued. “One person told me there’s no going back now. This is total — you know, there’s no reconciliation here when you raid somebody’s house. And so because of the political implications of that, I’m curious … [Read more...] about ‘You Have Martyred Donald Trump’: CNN Guest Rips Mar-A-Lago Raid
CNN Exclusive: Biden administration offers convicted Russian arms dealer in exchange for Griner, Whelan
Washington (CNN) After months of internal debate, the Biden administration has offered to exchange Viktor Bout , a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US prison sentence, as part of a potential deal to secure the release of two Americans held by Russia , Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, according to people briefed on the matter. These sources told CNN that the plan to trade Bout for Whelan and Griner received the backing of President Joe Biden after being under discussion since earlier this year. Biden's support for the swap overrides opposition from the Department of Justice, which is generally against prisoner trades. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that "so far, there is no agreement on this issue." Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that the US presented a "substantial proposal" to Moscow "weeks ago" for Whelan and Griner, who are classified as wrongfully detained. Speaking at a press … [Read more...] about CNN Exclusive: Biden administration offers convicted Russian arms dealer in exchange for Griner, Whelan
Apple jumps onto Malaysia’s mobile payment bandwagon
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): Apple has partnered with Ambank, Maybank and Standard Chartered Malaysia to offer its mobile payment services to Malaysian customers. “Customers with Visa and Mastercard cards from banks including AmBank, Maybank and Standard Chartered Bank can now use Apple Pay, with American Express cards to be available with Apple Pay later this year,” the consumer electronic company announced on its website on Tuesday (Aug 9). "Merchants such as KFC, Maxis, Machines, McDonald’s, Mydin, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, U Mobile, Uniqlo, Village Grocer and Watsons — and apps and websites including Shopee, Sephora, Atome and Adidas — now offer customers the ability to pay with Apple Pay." Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet Jennifer Bailey said the company is delighted to bring Apple Pay to Malaysia, providing an easier, safer and more secure way to pay with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. “Our customers in Malaysia will benefit from using … [Read more...] about Apple jumps onto Malaysia’s mobile payment bandwagon