You have probably heard of the author, entrepreneur, and atheist Sam Harris. His book, “The End of Faith,” was both interesting, illustrative, and rather depressing. It is beneficial to read books by people you disagree with, even at fundamental levels. I still respect his work. He’s brilliant and successful.
Recently, I posted about more than 70 former Republican national security advisors who signed a statement mostly in opposition to Donald Trump’s reelection last year but endorsing Joe Biden with these prescient words:
While we – like all Americans – had hoped that Donald Trump would govern wisely, he has disappointed millions of voters who put their faith in him and has demonstrated that he is dangerously unfit to serve another term.
In contrast, we believe Joe Biden has the character, experience, and temperament to lead this nation. We believe he will restore the dignity of the presidency, bring Americans together, reassert America’s role as a global leader, and inspire our nation to live up to its ideals.
While some of us hold policy positions that differ from those of Joe Biden and his party, the time to debate those policy differences will come later. For now, it is imperative that we stop Trump’s assault on our nation’s values and institutions and reinstate the moral foundations of our democracy.
To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him. (emphasis theirs)
How is that working out?
After the calamitous debacle of Afghanistan these past several days, a few of them and their fellow travelers have suddenly refound their principled leadership to criticize Joe Biden’s disastrously incompetent decision making and direction. Biden endorser Kori Schake, one of the 70 who signed this statement, is an excellent example. I agree with her post, and she obviously knows her stuff. But I can’t get past the fact that she helped foist upon us Calamity Joe whose disaster she now criticizes. Her criticisms ring hollow.
Not a single one of the signers that I can find has apologized for helping put forth this grotesque incompetence and misjudgment into the White House. Perhaps I’m wrong. Regardless, they should.
Sam Harris had the integrity to step forward with this post on Twitter.
Harris is obviously expressing regret for a tweet he posted on January 20th, 2021, when Biden was inaugurated, referring to him and his team as “adults in the room.” The “gratitude” is clearly gone.
I do not blame the average Biden voter, even many Republican friends who either bought a bill of goods or were clouded by Trump hate. They’re being awfully silent these days. But so-called national security experts, with full knowledge that Joe Biden has “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades," as former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Robert Gates famously exclaimed? And don’t forget Barack Obama’s reputed words about his former Vice President, as reported in Politico a year before Biden’s inauguration: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up.” Indeed.
Kudos to Harris for the class and integrity to admit his error. Biden supporter Kori Schake and her ilk should follow suit. Until they do, they should exercise the right to remain silent.