rich edson is at the state department with the latest. rich? >> reporter: good afternoon, dana. secretary of state mike pompeo, other top security officials are meeting in new jersey with president trump on these discussions with the taliban. the top u.s. negotiator is back in the united states after his 8th round of discussions with taliban leaders in qatar to srepb khully try to reduce the u.s. military presence in afghanistan after 18 years of fighting. senior administration officials said there is no announcement expected on afghanistan this afternoon after this meeting. he has repeatedly said nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. the taliban wants the u.s. military out of afghanistan. the u.s. wants to deny afghanistan as base for extremist groups and for discussions to begin between the taliban and the elected government of afghanistan. the taliban has refused to meet with the afghan government. despite the negotiations, attacks and fighting in