the taliban has called news organizations, including a call here at nbc news in kabul, to claim responsibility for the attack. they say they shot the helicopter down. the taliban often does that, claims responsibility for things that turn out to be accidents. and indeed, most of the helicopter crashes here have turned out to be accidents. maintenance problems, the incredible amount of dust in the air. this is the deadliest year for coalition forces. after today's crash, 525 coalition forces have died this year. 351 of them, u.s. forces. savannah, chuck? >> all right, john yang for us in kabul with that distressing news. i'm sure we'll hear more about what may have happened in the run up to the crash. thanks very much. well, on to the economy. a key meeting in washington today. the federal reserve wrestling with what, if there's anything that can be done to try to get this recovery going. john harwood joins us now.