the t commander, took in ordering the rescue when intelligence showed that joseph was in imminent danger of injury or death. jonese several things the s.e.a.l.s would have known before they went in. >> you need to collect intelligence on the target to see where they're at, who's guarding it, what the terrain is like. second, you've got to look at how you're going to insert into that area. and then you're going to look at how to actually get on to the target. >> reporter: but, you know, wolf, in the coming year, as the number of troops, u.s. troops in afghanistan, decline, as it goes down, the risk to american civilians of being kidnapped may indeed grow. there will be less u.s. troops available to come help them if, heaven forbid, they do get kidnapped. since 2000, about 3 dozen civilians kidnapped in afghanistan. wolf. >> given the dangers, are pentagon official, other u.s. official, urging american, despite the good intention, to stay away from these very dangerous areas? >> reporter: well, there have been cautions for years, especially aid workers who typically travel with very minimal security, with a very lo