counterinsurgency effort and no matter what we do, we can't kill our way out of it. >> reporter: a mood of cautious optimism and acknowledgement from these troops that while a big american objective has been achieved, this mission is far from over. mohammad jamjoom, cnn, afghanistan. the father of an american soldier captured in afghanistan more than two years ago is making his first public appeal for his son's release. it's believed his son is being held by allies of the taliban. his father is in idaho and now released a youtube video addressed to the taliban and those holding his son. >> i pray this video may be shown to our only son. god bless you. we love you. we've been quiet in public, but we haven't been quiet behind the