It was all about the poll numbers, and that was all it was about.
“Exclusive: Before Afghan collapse, Biden pressed Ghani to ‘change perception,’” by Aram Roston and Nandita Bose, Reuters, August 31, 2021:
WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) – In the last call between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Afghanistan counterpart before the Taliban seized control of the country, the leaders discussed military aid, political strategy and messaging tactics, but neither Biden nor Ashraf Ghani appeared aware of or prepared for the immediate danger of the entire country falling to insurgents, a transcript reviewed by Reuters shows.
The men spoke for roughly 14 minutes on July 23. On August 15, Ghani fled the presidential palace, and the Taliban entered Kabul. Since then, tens of thousands of desperate Afghans have fled and 13 U.S. troops and scores of Afghan civilians were killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport during the frenetic U.S. military evacuation.
Reuters reviewed a transcript of the presidential phone call and has listened to the audio to authenticate the conversation. The materials were provided on condition of anonymity by a source who was not authorized to distribute it.
In the call, Biden offered aid if Ghani could publicly project he had a plan to control the spiraling situation in Afghanistan. “We will continue to provide close air support, if we know what the plan is,” Biden said. Days before the call, the U.S. carried out air strikes to support Afghan security forces, a move the Taliban said was in violation of the Doha peace agreement….
In much of the call, Biden focused on what he called the Afghan government’s “perception” problem. “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.”
Biden told Ghani that if Afghanistan’s prominent political figures were to give a press conference together, backing a new military strategy, “that will change perception, and that will change an awful lot I think.”
The American leader’s words indicated he didn’t anticipate the massive insurrection and collapse to come 23 days later. “We are going to continue to fight hard, diplomatically, politically, economically, to make sure your government not only survives, but is sustained and grows,” said Biden.
The White House Tuesday declined to comment on the call….
Infidel says
Yeah, the brilliance of this administration never ceases to amaze… They’ve already started flooding different states w/ Afghan refugees, giving them parole which makes them legal in the US even if they leave their holding facilities. They’re doing that in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – to ensure that they don’t lose those 2 states again. That enables them to fill up more fake votes, and if you dare question the voting of Mohammed Amanullah Rahamatzai, you’re nothing but a vile islamophobe
Steve says
This is what happens when children are in control, and the left have always thought like children.
Donovan Nuera says
Sundowner Joe almost okayed the installment of Hunter as Ghani’s military advisor …probably.
john smith says
Exactly Steve, the left do think children without exception, their minds haven’t properly developed.
owensgate says
IDK… It brings up a wonder or two… Is this all the result of Eisenhower’s dreaded “Military-Industrial” complex applying all the right screws in order for us to go back into Afghanistan with a much broader war, to replace the current one which “failed” by floundering into insignificance?
gravenimage says
I haven’t seen anyone seriously talking about going back in to Afghanistan. Citations, please.
CogitoErgoSum says
It’s all in the mind, you know. Joe Biden is out of his and he wants you to join him in La La Land where it’s happy and fun all day long – from time to rise and shine at 10:00 in the morning until it’s time for cookies and milk before going to bed in the evening at 5:00. He has a dream and he’s living it 24/7 because … well, because he’s the President and you aren’t .. and that’s because… well, that’s because he’s just smarter than anybody else in the whole wide world … I mean his world (except for his son, Hunter).
Keys says
Ah, “time for cookies and milk” – that’s why he keeps checking his watch.
CogitoErgoSum says
It’s either that or else he was worried about how much longer he could keep standing there before his adult diaper needed changing.
Wellington says
Biden is despicable but the real problem lies with all those who actually voted for this man (fake votes by the millions not included).
gravenimage says
Biden pressed Afghanistan’s Ghani to ‘change perception’ that Taliban were winning, ‘whether it is true or not’
……………..
Ah, yes–changing that “perception” helped so much–the Taliban took the presidential palace three weeks later.
Fantasy-based foreign policy…
OLD GUY says
Well according to the Democrats impeachment phone call requirements they should shortly be starting impeachment of Biden as they did with Trump. Only this time they really have something to hang their hat on.
Can’t wait to see Adam Shiffty leading the charge.