Week in Review: Biden Rejects Afghanistan Report, Pelosi Admits Wages Down, “Fire on the Spot” Promise Exposed

The week of 2/13/2022 saw several major stories converge: Biden flatly rejected a 2,000-page U.S. Army investigation into the Afghanistan withdrawal, CNN’s Jake Tapper called the rejection “insulting” to troops who gave sworn testimony, Pelosi admitted real wages were declining because of inflation while insisting no one had better “strategic thinking” than Biden, and the White House’s “fire on the spot” pledge for workplace disrespect was exposed as hollow when science adviser Dr. Lander was allowed to resign instead of being fired.

Biden Rejects 2,000-Page Army Report

Biden told NBC he rejected the findings of the Army’s after-action report on Afghanistan. “Does any of that ring true to you?” the interviewer asked. “No. No. That’s not what I was told,” Biden said. “Are you rejecting the conclusions or the accounts that are in this Army report?” the reporter pressed. “Yes, I am. I’m rejecting them,” Biden said.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan echoed the rejection. “The president and I sitting here today do reject the reports that the White House or the NSC sought to slow down the evacuation,” Sullivan said.

CNN’s Jake Tapper issued a sharp rebuke. “It’s difficult to overstate how insulting Biden’s sweeping rejection is to so many service members and veterans,” Tapper said. “Many accounts are from troops who were on the ground at the gates, near the canal, around the airport. Non-commissioned officers, junior officers, people with little political motivation to lie and heavy legal and moral obligation to tell the truth in sworn statements.”

Tapper added: “If this was not what you were told, then what were you told? And don’t you have an obligation, sir, to be told? Isn’t that how you demonstrate how much you care? Otherwise, isn’t it just words?”

Pelosi Admits Wages Not Keeping Up

Pelosi acknowledged the inflation crisis was eroding workers’ paychecks. “Wages are not keeping up with prices. That’s right,” Pelosi conceded. Yet she continued to defend Biden, asking: “Who is more empathetic than Joe Biden? Who has a bigger vision, more knowledge, more strategic thinking about all this?”

A CNN poll found 51% of Democrats did not want Biden to run again in 2024. Separately, 56% of Americans who disapproved of Biden could not name a single positive action he had taken — “not on coronavirus, not on the economy, not even on getting a cat.”

Senator Manchin offered his assessment: “People should quit worrying about the politics. The worst thing that happens is you lose. Do the right thing for the American people. Be an American."

"Fire on the Spot” Exposed

The week featured a stark contrast between Biden’s inauguration-day pledge and reality. “I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No ifs, ands, or buts. Everybody,” Biden had said on his first day.

But when White House science adviser Dr. Eric Lander was found to have bullied and demeaned staff, he was not fired — he was allowed to resign. “Our employees shouldn’t expect that people will be fired if they treat colleagues with disrespect?” a reporter asked. Psaki defended the “process” rather than the pledge.

OPEC Ignores Biden on Oil

With gas prices climbing, a reporter pressed on OPEC’s refusal to increase production. “OPEC says they’re going to stick at 400,000 barrels a day. They’re not ramping up in the way that you’re asking them to,” the reporter said. The administration had no alternative plan beyond continuing to “approach” OPEC.

FCC Nominee: “Activist” vs. “Advocate”

FCC nominee Gigi Sohn was pressed on whether she was an activist. “Are you an activist, yes or no?” a senator asked. “I’m an advocate,” Sohn replied. “Tell me what is the difference between the two terms?” the senator asked. “I’m not sure there is that much of a difference,” Sohn admitted — prompting the senator to note it was “a distinction without a difference.”

Key Takeaways

Biden rejected a 2,000-page Army report on Afghanistan based on sworn testimony from troops; CNN’s Tapper called the rejection “insulting” to service members.
Pelosi admitted wages were not keeping up with inflation while insisting no one had better “strategic thinking” than Biden; 51% of Democrats did not want him to run again.
Biden’s “fire on the spot” promise for workplace disrespect was exposed when science adviser Lander was allowed to resign rather than being fired.
OPEC refused to increase oil production beyond 400,000 barrels per day despite Biden’s requests, with no alternative plan presented.
FCC nominee Sohn admitted there was not “that much of a difference” between being an activist and an advocate.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

Are you rejecting the conclusions in this Army report? Yes, I am. I’m rejecting them.
It’s difficult to overstate how insulting Biden’s sweeping rejection is to so many service members and veterans.
Wages are not keeping up with prices. That’s right. Who is more empathetic than Joe Biden? Who has more strategic thinking?
I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Are you an activist, yes or no? I’m an advocate. What’s the difference? I’m not sure there is that much of a difference.
People should quit worrying about the politics. The worst thing that happens is you lose. Be an American.

Full transcript: 1232 words transcribed via Whisper AI.