From the call:
According to a transcript of the July 23 presidential call reviewed by Reuters, Biden didn’t anticipate the Taliban’s rapid advance across Afghanistan, which ended when its fighters stormed Kabul on Aug. 15 and Ghani fled the presidential palace. Instead, Biden focused much of the 14-minute call on the Afghan government’s "perception" problem, Reuters reported.
"I need not tell you the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, is that things are not going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban," Biden said. "And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
JOE BIDEN TOLD PRESIDENT GHANI:
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."
Translation: JOE BIDEN SAID TO GHANI: "PLEASE ******* LIE TO THE WORLD FOR ME."