briefing that suggested there have been security gains on the ground in afghanistan. he thinks there's quote unquote momentum. whether he is right or wrong, we'll find out. but now is the time to finally end it. and if you don't end it, it will just go on and on. >> i only have about a minute left. but why the timing, kt? i know you think it has something to do with the elections in afghanistan. >> yes. they are both going to be pro american. they won't be karzai. they will want to have a deal with america. so if the president wants out, you need to do it now. you wait three weeks, you have a new government. they'll be asking for a much longer commitment from the united states. as will a number of them -- >> afghanistan saying look, we've got an end date and troop level to end it. enables him to turn the page today so tomorrow at west point he can look forward beyond afghanistan, beyond iraq. again, criticism of how he frames it. we will have that debate back and forth in days ahead. but it puts a period on that war and says, okay, here is my