said, getting out 5, 7, 9,000 people a day. that is pretty impressive if we can get them out without a lot of casualties. but there is no dispute that the initial days of this went ugly. we should say it. and then, the next question is how do we get to that 5, 7, 9,000? and why didn't we get to it today? i tell you, don, the thing i'll be watching when you talking about the reports you just mentioned about the situation outside kabul, isn't whether we reach 5 or 7 or 9,000 a day. it's how confident we are that the taliban's acceptance that people are going to the airport, that that acceptance holds. boy, is that going to last another day? another two days? because remember, those people at the airport are regarded by the taliban as the enemy. those are the people who supported the americans. we got to move fast because the taliban, eventually, is going to come after these people. >> what -- what we're learning is that the -- the military commanders are in constant communication with taliban leaders over security at the airport. just to ensure the safety of americans and afghans who want to escape. what does it say to you that the