Reporter's Notebook

Home, for now

Scott and I are now back in the D.C. area after six weeks in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

I learned a lot on our assignment – the Afghan people are resilient and resourceful; the Afghan army and police are still struggling but they’re making progress; we need more troops on the ground; we need to better understand the role of the United States and its ISAF allies; we need to define, if possible, success in that country.

I also learned that while our troops are stretched thin in that vast, unforgiving country, they are working hard to make things better. Sometimes it’s frustrating because progress seems to come so slowly, but the troops we met just kept pushing forward. I admire that – and I appreciate their determination and dedication.

To all the men and women we had the pleasure to meet, thank you for sharing your lives and stories with us. I will keep you in my thoughts until you come home.

Godspeed.