advising are acting more aggressively. considering we're very much at war, and on the offense in afghanistan, what is your reaction to that piece in the times? >> any time we have soldiers in a combat environment, you have to essentially recognize that they are at war. certainly on a war footing. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. to think otherwise would be p pretty detrimental not just for us i think, at home but for the guys on the ground. that's when politics start to override kind of tactical common sense. >> you're saying wait a minute. the white house is telling us the war in afghanistan is over. but you're shaking your head. that's what time is doing as well. saying it doesn't seem like it. >> the taliban, every year there's a spring oh fensive thate offensive. we're at 70% fatality rates this time than last year. this year we're at 700.