october of 2001, and that is with the country under taliban control. that group stormed back to power this month at a speed that surprised top american generals. as the last plane took off yesterday, taliban fighters could be seen shooting fireworks and artillery in the sky in celebration they say of the defeat of another super power. joining me now is ralph sanchez and mike memoli. good morning to you both. ralph, i begin with you, what is the feeling on the ground in afghanistan? we saw the celebration on the ground by the taliban and by the final americans who lifted off in the c-17 yesterday. >> reporter: willie, good morning. a taliban official telling nbc news today, afghanistan has its independence. as far as they are concerned, they have outlasted and outfought the world's major super power. they are now fully in control of that country as they were in