Hitler's Circle of Evil is a documentary on the Third Reich.

It's a history that tells a story that generally is not told, and it is a history that we who are liberal and who oppose Fascism in its new and old forms need to see.

It is long and detailed, but absolutely a must-see for Democrats.

Do you suppose the Trump/Russia/United Arab Emirates/Prince meeting in

the Seychelles may have concerned taking the natural resources out of Afghanistan?

What do you think?

Russia would be the transportation link, the way to get the materials out of Afghanistan. The United Emirates and may I also mention Saudi Arabia would be helpful as investors and as Muslim intermediaries with the Muslim majorities in Afghanistan.

Again, what do you think?

Erik Prince thinks he can turn around the war in Afghanistan, and he’s got a PowerPoint deck to explain the whole thing. The Blackwater founder brought it with him to the Corner Bakery on North Capitol Street in Washington last Thursday, printed out and placed in a presentation binder. He’s been shopping it around D.C. And on Friday, when President Trump huddles with his advisers at Camp David to plot a way forward, it will be in the mix.

The 16-year-old war in Afghanistan has become a central point of conflict in the White House as the administration passes the half-year mark without having settled on a new strategy. Trump has so far rejected the proposals brought to his desk. The troop increases favored by his generals, Defense Secretary James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, are strongly opposed by his (now-former) chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and the president himself is skeptical of such approaches.

The “America First” ethos on which Trump campaigned is bumping up against the approach of his military brass. But an answer may finally be at hand. Trump and top administration officials will gather at Camp David on Friday to discuss South Asia strategy. Vice President Pence is even cutting his Latin America trip short to join the talks.
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A U.S. Marine shakes hand with Afghan National Army soldiers.

America Needs to Stay in Afghanistan

But this is not just an argument between warring elements within the administration. Plans to privatize the war proposed by two businessmen with ties to the White House have become a linchpin of the debate. Prince is proposing to send private contractors to Afghanistan instead of U.S. troops, and have the entire operation overseen by a “viceroy.” The billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg has also submitted a proposal using contractors. Both have met with top administration officials on the matter. Their involvement was first reported by The New York Times last month. In recent weeks, their lobbying effort has ramped up, as Trump signals he is nearing a decision. And Trump is said to favor using at least some of Prince and Feinberg’s proposals.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/afghanistan-camp-david/537324/

Remember. Russia went into Afghanistan before the US did.

Why are you a Democrat

and not a Republican or Independent?

How would you explain this to your family, your friends, strangers?

Two Lessons (by no means all) learned from the Trump White House

1) What it is like when our government is run like an American business

chaotic, mean, grabbing, greedy, dirty, nasty, backbiting, dishonest, incompetent, needing regulation --- you supply your own adjectives

2) Why American businesses are not competing successfully in the big, wide world -- all of the above plus another day another firing.

No attempt to apply non-violent techniques to solve problems -- just more psychological and maybe even in some cases physical bludgeoning.

The Trump administration is a perfect example of the relationship between all too many (although not all) employers in the US and their employees.

Turnover under Trump's mismanagement is so rapid you can't keep track of the names of those coming and going on the White House staff. It's not possible to accomplish good things in that kind of atmosphere.

So many people are leaving the White House and so many of his top aides don't qualify for security clearances.

In addition to the fact that Trump has hired Republican fools to support his administration in the White House, there is what is becoming increasingly clear is his and his supervisors' contempt for their employees.

No one would put future employees in the position that Trump's staff has been put in with constant staff changes and constant suspicion of participation in the Russia conspiracy. Trump needs to come completely clean about the theft of Hillary's e-mails, when he knew and how, his past business dealings and financial relationships, etc. The first step is to show the American people his tax forms and come clean about his debt and that of members of his team in the White House including his family members. What do they owe, and to whom do they owe it?

Transparency. That's what we need. Right now, the American government, thanks to Trump's mismanagement, is in a tailspin.

When does it ever end? The scandals, the turnover, the confusion.

Sorry! This is not Making America Great Again. It's making us fail, and it won't be easy to pick up the pieces after this one.

George W. Bush led us into a serious recession in which many people lost their homes. Obama, ever steady, ever intelligent, and a good person carefully walked us out of that disaster. Trump is doing even worse than GWB. Another disaster that a Democrat will have to walk our country out of.

This is "business (Trump) managing government," and it is awful.

What a mess.