tell me exactly why we're in nuristan. i understand why we're in afghanistan. why in this part of afghanistan? is this really counterinsurgency you guys are doing up there or are you simply sticking your fist into a hornet's nest? >> let's delve into that. the argument would be made if we were not to be there, if we were to say, seed these areas which are sparsely populated, there are very few people. the argument is the taliban will assert control there, potentially al qaeda or other terrorist groups could set up traini ining camps and things l that. what's wrong with that argument? >> there's nothing wrong with it. that's probably what would happen. i think what you're seeing is general mcchrystal considering, given the limited number of troops i'm going to have, what's the best use of them? one use might be, okay, let's pull back from those areas and focus on an ink spot classic counterinsurgency approach. kabul, khost, and kandahar. put your troops, put your resources there and do classic counterinsurgency there -- >> provide security for the people there a