they are said to have territois territory down from a third, trying to overtake the town of raqqah. they're struggling to find people who say he's changed the nature of battle at all. this is the old obama plan simply playing out. >> reporter: i'm ivan watson. it is america's longest conflict going on for nearly 16 years, and by many accounts, the war in afghanistan is not going well. a taliban raid earlier this month killed and wounded more than 100 soldiers from the u.s.-backed afghan army. its casualties are at a record high. the u.s. still has around 8,400 troops in country backed by around 6,000 nato forces, but the taliban is fighting to control large chunks of territory, and now isis is carrying out its own terror attacks. meanwhile, the afghan government is plagued by corruption and periodic infighting. the top u.s. commander recently