calls its life line, praises like kandahar, like zari, like argondab, these are not areas the taliban going to give up without a very tough fight. that's why we're seeing early on in the so-called surge and that's why generals say it's going to get worse before it gets better. >> you know what strikes me, jim, about this live shot here, i'm looking at you standing there in kabul. things look seemingly so normal from the rooftop there. can you talk about what it's like on the ground, on the street? are shops open? is it a bustling, thriving loif there or not at all? >> reporter: it's absolutely a bustling, thriving life. and it is -- you can get a false sense of security if you're not an afghan. a year or two ago i would have gone with my fixer here, we would have gone to a local business center, sat down if a nice coffee shop and had a cappuccino and a coffee cake.