be good actors. they were posturing they would come to the table and negotiate a peace settlement. they obviously haven't done that. we have the opportunity to try to hold their feet to the fire on these issues by not recognizing their government, amongst other things. but we also have an obligation to the people of afghanistan, many of whom, as we have all been talking about, women and children. many of those women are some of the most powerful allies we've had in the 20 years in afghanistan who have really been on the front lines in many ways, fighting for us and for their country. so it is complicated. it is an enormously complicated situation, but as we stepped into this conversation we all recognize it is something that the american people would like. it is the appetite of the american people to do this and to move forward on this, and it is our responsibility as leaders to do it as respectfully and responsibly as we possibly can. >> donna, a senior white house official said to me today something that was really blunt, but we are talking about where the public is where the last two administrations were. this official said that the