mind, i guess maybe it's not a surprise he decided to say what he said last night. is not revealing a plan in your mind a strategy? >> look, you know, we no're in bad situation in afghanistan. the last couple years have been a steady erosion of the position. the central government's corrupt and incompetent. the governors are out of control. the taliban now control half the country i think last night was realism in action. mr. trump may have read the speech, but he had to approve secretary mattis, tillerson, h.r. and others putting tot a plan to avoid a disaster. so i think that's what we heard. 4,000 troops, that's all on the margin. >> is this a plan to avoid disaer or a plan to win? >> plan to avoid disaster. i think general nixon on the ground -- there's a tremendous amount of experience, by the way, in d.c. if you know, chris, in understanding this problem. they did get left with a mess.