>> let me switch you to afghanistan, the other big issue on the white house's agenda. your own column said that the longer that brez obama awaits to make this decision, the more he will be subjected to questions about whether he is tough enough and resolute enough to be commander in chief. this was the very question that dogged him throughout the campaign for president. what are the risks here? the down side for the president as he makes this really very complicated decision where there aren't too many good options? >> well, i mean, let's stipulate you're absolutely right about that. this is not in any way an easy decision that he has to make and i think people on both sides of it would agree to that. i think people who are at the white house meeting from congress the other day who have quite different view s on what needs to be done this is a big, momentous and difficult decision. i think one of the issues was that this decision might drag on for some time.