tough going for them. it does not seem really at this point that there is a solution to this. erica. >> barbara starr, thank you as always. joining me now, wesley morgan a journalist covering the pentagon and military affairs and author. wesley, when we look at this, what barbara just laid out for us, what we're all waking up to this morning, the fact that the taliban is now moving into cities where maybe there was pushback before among the afghan forces with some help from the u.s., that is just not happening right now. what is all of this add up to for you? >> well it is not the first time taliban has taken provincial capitols but it is the first time they've taken a bunch at once. and will they be able to hold them. when they take one capitol and taken kunduz city before for instance, that a more limited problem for afghan special