that president karzai makes to whether they're constructive to having such a meeting. do you think they would actually once again cancel a meeting with hamid karzai in the middle of this war? >> they're certainly making it clear they're willing to consider it. after you have a head of state in a -- you know, a very central country in the region saying he might consider joining the taliban, you really have to wonder whether, one, you want to give the person the honor of a white house visit and, two, whether you actually could have constructive conversation with the person. now, i know the very public tit for tat here is a little unseemly. it has people a little unnerved. but the white house has to stand its ground with someone who should be in its corner. >> and, in fact, karzai has shown no sign that he was chasened. in fact, he's had the opposite reaction after the weekend trip the president took. >> mm-hmm, that's right. it was after that trip --