. >> i want to make sure i do understand because you told senator kauffman it doesn't matter if we leave just a matter of how quick we leave. is that not true? >> based on conditions. given current projections. again, senator, i want you to read the statement i gave at the outset. >> as of june 2012 do you anticipate us having more or less than 50,000 american soldiers in afghanistan? >> senator, i wouldn't hazard a projection. i think that would be speculative and, again, we're a year from the beginning of the process, which is a year from the date that you just stated, and it's just not productive. in fact it could be unproductive. >> one last -- how does the taliban view this policy. has this policy that we're going to begin withdraw in july of 2011, is there any indication that enemy is encouraged by that plus the fact that nato forces are beginning to withdraw? >> the enemy has a number of different emotions right now, senator. one is that the enemy is under greater pressure than at any time before and they are feeling this. we can -- we have insight into that's they say. and we hav

. >> i am with the kauffman foundation. a great discussion. quick challenges -- i will stand up. wonder whether there may have been a mistake in framing the attainment goal as number one in the world. many of you got free copies of my book "the great brain race," which suggests this is not a zero sum game. other people can fail and you can end up being number one. this is an absolute goal. there are audacious goals, as operational goals, but one of them implies that we are in this race where everyone can not improve. it seems to me it would not matter if we were no. 8 or no. 10 in the world everybody was getting better. that is what you need to build capital. the second challenged i would throw out is not to defend my former "u.s. news" -- but everyone who wants to build a university is out raising money. there are perverse incentives about productivity. if you're trying to become great you are not only trying to become more productive. you are simultaneously trying to get money. that is your weapon to get better. is that not true? >> we will go with glenn. three minutes. >> and