I wish this story would be the lead on Fox News or even the New York Times, but Politico gets the honors. [1] I am not sure there is a better parable as to the administration’s incompetence. Read this and gape in horror, because if you’re like me and have family working in the healthcare field, this is life and death:
Last week, a Trump administration official working to secure much-needed protective gear for doctors and nurses in the United States had a startling encounter with counterparts in Thailand.
The official asked the Thais for help—only to be informed by the puzzled voices on the other side of the line that a U.S. shipment of the same supplies, the second of two so far, was already on its way to Bangkok.
How convenient, turn the ship around.
What in the world is going on here! The Trump administration is frantically trying to catch up with the scope of the problem, calling up friendly nations all over the world, like Thailand. But upon doing so, they are confronted by their incompetence. Thailand likely said: “Sure, I guess. Just have them turn the boat around on the second delivery of PPE you sent us.”
Trump aides were alarmed when they learned of the exchange, and immediately put the shipment on hold while they ordered a review of U.S. aid procedures. Crossed wires would only confuse our allies, they worried, or worse—offend them. And Americans confronting a surging death toll and shortages of medical equipment back home would likely be outraged.
No shit?
Let’s summarize the conclusions the Pence Force managed to put together by themselves: One, if we offer stuff on the one hand, and take it back on with the other, it will confuse our allies or piss them off because they relied on it instead of getting it from somewhere else. And two, Americans will be furious we’re buying our stuff back from other countries. Genius.
If you put this out on Fox News or in all the Evangelical churches in America, they’d likely write it up as some genius interception of American goods the Thais had fooled out of us.
I often wonder, when there is a world market on this stuff if actual government stockpiles are sold, or “donated” (as I believe these were), on the signature of an American, who was paid off. It would not be a first, especially in this administration.
Or they’re just morons.
Disgusting. This piece was three days old, it is impossible to keep track of everything this government does wrong. I wonder if it ever even occurs to them: “We are really fcking this up.”
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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and @MiciakZoom