back to the hotel and added that the 86-year-old castro looked very well. whoever wins the american presidency this year will likely oversee the end of the longest war in american history. afghanistan. as of this month 11 years and counting. here's our national security correspondent david martin. >> reporter: it took just five weeks for american precision guided bombs and special forces on horseback to chase the taliban from power. so thoroughly was the taliban dismantled, that in february 2003 afghan president karzai skofd at the possibility of a taliban spring offensive. >> i don't think that is going to happen. these guys are on the run. they're hiding. >> reporter: but not defeated. taliban leaders retreat mood pakistan where they regrouped. and in 2006 launched a spring offensive which ronald newmann then the person ambassador in afghanistan described in this cable. >> we were surprised by the size of the forces employed.