JIM: THE FALLOUT FROM THE WITHDRAWAL IN AFGHANISTAN.

WHAT ARE LOCAL DELEGATION HAS TO SAY.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S RHODE ISLAND SCHOLARSHIP.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY IT >> INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES THE FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM ON IT -- PBS.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] JIM: JOIN US, BILL LYNCH.

PLUS ATTORNEY AND LEGAL ANALYST LOU POHLMAN.

HELLO, WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE MESS THAT IS AFGHANISTAN A LITTLE LATER.

GOVERNOR MCKEE REVERSED COURSE ON THURSDAY AND ENDED AT SOME FELT WAS MIXED MESSAGING BY ISSUING AN EMERGENT ORDER REQUIRING ALL STUDENTS MASK UP INDOORS WHEN THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL NEXT MONTH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT HE SHOULD'VE DONE THIS WEEKS AGO.

THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO LET THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S DO IT.

THE PUBLIC PRESSURE WAS TOO MUCH.

LOU: WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE MASKS REQUIREMENTS.

HE'S THINKING THEY KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T OR SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GUY WHO GETS BLAMED FOR IT.

THE EASY DECISION IS TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO MASK UP.

JIM: WE ARE SO USED TO EMERGENCY ORDERS.

I APPRECIATE THAT HE WANTED TO LET THE LOCALS MAKE THE DECISION.

DO YOU THINK HE MESS ESTIMATED?

THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOWBACK.

BILL: I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

IT CHANGES, IT IS VOLATILE.

IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

HE IS LISTENING TO THE MEDICAL PEOPLE, THE DOCTORS, GETTING INPUT AS HE IS ALWAYS DONE FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TRYING TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

THIS MIGHT CHANGE DAY TODAY.

WE MAY FIND OUT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW THAT HE SAYS I'M BEING TOLD AND I LEAVE THAT WE DON'T NEED MASKS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUSH IS.

IT'S NOT HARD.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO SUDDENLY PRODUCE ONE MILLION MASKS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT.

I HAVE AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON IN THE THIRD GRADE.

HE GETS UP AND POPS ON HIS MASK AND TAKES OFF TO SCHOOL AND DOESN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOOD OR BAD.

IT IS AN INGRAINED PART OF WHAT THE KIDS ARE DOING.

I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE KIDS.

I THINK LOU IS RIGHT.

IT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL WITH THE ADULTS.

SOME PARENT ARE DEAD SET AGAINST IT.

THE TEACHERS UNION IS WEIGHING IN AS ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT DECISION TO REQUIRE OF CARE WORKERS BE VACCINATED.

IT'S A HORRIBLE THING WE ARE LIVING THROUGH.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

IN THE MEANTIME, THERE WOULD BE DECISIONS MADE.

THERE WILL BE MISSTEPS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

LEEANN: I AM CONFUSED BY THIS WHOLE THING.

EVERYTHING IS CHANGING DAILY.

AT FIRST WE WERE TOLD WE DON'T NEED MASKS.

THEN WE DON'T NEED MASKS.

THE VACCINATIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP PEOPLE.

NOW WE CAN STILL PASS COVID BEING VACCINATED.

THERE IS SO MUCH MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

IT IS HARD FOR PARENTS TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

HOW DO YOU -- JIM: IS IT MAKING YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON CHANGING CONDITIONS?

BILL: I THINK IT'S BOTH.

LEEANN: WHO DO WE TURN TO TO GET A FIRM ANSWER ON IT?

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

LOU: THE CDC IS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB MESSAGING.

LEEANN: AND INFORMING PEOPLE ON HOW IT SPREADS AND HOW WE CAN INFECT OURSELVES.

WE ARE SO FIXATED ON MASKING IT, WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING OUR DISTANCE?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SANITIZING HANDS.

LYSOL IS BACK ON THE SHELVES.

THERE IS PLENTY OF HAND SANITIZER.

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

JIM: IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY'VE SAID MASKING.

IT'S THE THREE DAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE.

LEEANN: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE NOT GOING TO QUARANTINE.

IF THEY RE EXPOSED TO IT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO QUARANTINE.

ISN'T THAT MORE OF A DECISION?

LOU: WE HAVE ALL HEARD IT AND THERE IS NO DISPUTING THIS.

THE MASKS DON'T WORK.

WE ARE WEARING SATIN, WE'RE ARE WEARING IT PAPER.

WAS IT REALLY WORKS ARE THE N95'S.

WE AREN'T WEARING THOSE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

JIM: I'M NOT SURE YOU WOULD AGREE.

BILL: ANY LOU STARTS WITH SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IT, SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK THEY ARE THE ANSWER.

I THINK THEY HELP.

THE REAL BIG ISSUE IS THE ONE THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO TALK ABOUT, THIS ISSUE OF VACCINATIONS.

IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF VACCINATIONS ARE THERE PLACES WHERE THE RATES ARE AS LOW AS THEY ARE.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

I FIND IT VERY DISCOURAGING.

I RESPECT OPINIONS ON THAT, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH IT.

THAT'S FLORIDA OR THAT'S TEXAS, I DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND IN MY BUSINESS AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THEY ARE GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

THEY REPEAT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THESE FALSEHOODS ABOUT THE VACCINE AND THE GOVERNMENT PUTTING CHIPS IN PEOPLE AND TRACKING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

LEEANN: THE GOVERNMENT HAS LOST THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE.

BILL: I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF MISSED MESSAGES.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

JIM: WE CAN ALL AGREE ABOUT THAT.

LOU: WE CAN ALL AGREE.

JIM: I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.

THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO SAY JUST LIKE WE ARE IN THE BUBBLE HERE.

LIKE RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS HAVE HIGH VACCINATION RATES, WE ARE NOT FLORIDA OR TEXAS.

NEWPORT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM BARRINGTON.

YOU MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON YOUR BEST INTEREST.

BILL: THIS GOVERNOR IS DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST ONE.

THIS IS NOT NEW FOR DAN MCKEE.

WHEN HE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HE WAS THE MAYOR BEFORE THAT.

HE HAS A HISTORY AND IT'S INGRAINED IN WHO HE IS OF DEALING WITH THESE LOCAL MAYORS AND CITIES AND TOWNS IN TRYING TO RESPECT THEIR INTEGRITY AND LISTEN TO THEM.

THIS GOVERNOR FEELS STRONGLY THAT EVERY CITY AND TOWN THROUGH THEIR MAYOR SHOULD HAVE SOME INPUT INTO WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR TOWN.

I THINK HE'S TRYING TO STICK TO THAT.

JIM: IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE LOCAL EQUIVALENT OF STATES RIGHTS.

I THINK IT GOT POLITICAL.

NOW YOU HAVE -- I THOUGHT MCKEE WAS BRUSHING A NAP OFF OF IS THING.

THIS IS A MOVE FOR RELEVANCE.

HIS CONSULTANT SAINT WE NEED REAL LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S WHY MY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MASK UP.

THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T NEED.

LEEANN: WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CDC AND THE MESSAGE THEY ARE PUTTING OUT.

THAT'S WHY THERE IS SO MUCH CONFLICT OVER THIS.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN STRONG MESSAGES AND WE DON'T HAVE THE SCIENCE TO BACK IT UP.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A LONG ENOUGH TIME TO SAY THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

WE'RE NOT FAR ENOUGH INTO THIS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DATA.

LOU: THAT'S WHY I CAN ACCEPT WHAT BILL IS SAYING.

WE HAVE TO FLOW WITH THE TIMES.

THIS IS BRAND-NEW.

ALL THEY CAN TELL US IS THE VACCINE IS GOOD FOR EIGHT MONTHS BECAUSE THAT'S AS LONG AS WE HAVE HAD THE VACCINE.

JIM: AND A LOT OF US WILL BE COMING UP WITH THAT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

LOU: ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY'RE NOT WORKING ANYMORE.

I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING CHANGES.

BILL: SEVEN MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS NO DELTA VARIANT.

SEVEN MONTHS FROM NOW, THERE COULD BE ANOTHER ACTIVITY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL PEOPLE.

I AGREE, POLITICIZING THIS IS NOT HELPFUL.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN AND PEOPLE SHOULD GET ON THE SAME PAGE, IT WOULD BE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE MAN OR WOMAN IN RHODE ISLAND IS EXCITED ABOUT A POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE TO CALL FOR MASKING.

LEEANN: AND TO MAKE POINTS POLITICALLY.

WE DON'T NEED THAT.

PEOPLE ARE FATIGUED BY THIS.

IT IS NEW.

IT'S OLD.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR.

AS THIS IS A BEEN COMPLYING WITH DIFFERENT REGULATIONS CHANGING FROM DAY TODAY.

HAVING TO ADAPT TO THOSE CHANGING THINGS.

WE GOT THAT LITTLE BIT OF HOPE WHEN WE STARTED LOOSENING REGULATIONS AND YOU CAN GO BACK TO SEEING YOUR FAMILY.

NO ONE WANTS TO GO BACK TO THAT.

JIM: YOU TALK ABOUT THE EVOLVING SCIENCE, ONE OF THE INCENTIVES FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS TO GET IT WAS YOU WON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK OR IF YOU GET VACCINATED AND WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, THE A SYMPTOM ATTIC SPREAD.

IT'S EVOLVING BY THE WEEK.

LOU: IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, SOME DON'T LIE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAMATICALLY SICK AND DYING, 98% OF THEM ARE THOSE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED.

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

IT'S EXTREMELY DISCOURAGING TO ME.

IT'S AN ISSUE WHERE IF YOU'E DEAD SET AGAINST THE VACCINE, THAT'S FINE.

IT'S NOT JUST YOU YOU ARE IMPACTING.

YOU CAN DECIDE YOU DON'T WANT TO DRINK ALCOHOL.

YOU CAN DECIDE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA YOU DON'T WILL USE MARIJUANA.

IF YOU REFUSE TO GET THE VACCINE, IT'S NOT JUST A DECISION ABOUT YOUR BODY.

YOU'RE PUTTING THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE AT DRAMATIC RISK.

LEEANN: IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU ARE MITIGATING THAT RISK FOR YOURSELF.

THAT COMES DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUALITY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING CHANCES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE GOING TO USE SANITIZER.

PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT PRECAUTION.

LOU: THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED, I HAVE TALKED TO THEM HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

YOU HOPE THEY NEVER GET SICK.

I ALSO FEEL A LOT OF DOCTORS AND THEY DO GET SICK.

THEY END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

THEY ARE PLEADING WITH THE SAME DOCTORS WHO PLEADED THEM TO GET THE VACCINE TO GIVE THEM ANY MEDICATION THAT THEY CAN THAT WILL HELP THEM, INCLUDING THE VACCINE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

LOU: I WAS ON CLOUD NINE.

WHAT'S POWERFUL IS THEY ARE DOWN TO FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND THEY ARE DOING INTERVIEWS ON TV OF THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO GET VACCINATED.

THEY ARE NOW NEAR DEATH.

I THINK THOSE OF THE MOST POWERFUL VIDEOS.

JIM: A DOCTOR IN ALABAMA, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT, HE PUT A SIGN IN HIS DOOR THAT SAID I WILL NOT TREAT YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS EXTREME.

HE SAID I HAVE WATCHED TOO MANY PEOPLE DIE.

THEY HAVE BUYERS REGRET OR DEATHBED CONFESSIONS.

I CAN'T GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

FIVE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED BECAUSE OF THAT SIGN.

THE FINAL THING ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE ON, THE ECONOMY.

WE HAVE HAD THIS FLUSH OF FEDERAL MONEY.

YOU WONDER ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND HOW THIS IS AFFECTING BUSINESSES.

MCGEE HAS HELD THE LINE.

HE IS LEAVING IT UP TO BUSINESSES.

AS WE GET INTO THE WINTER AGAIN, HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE?

LEEANN: WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AT THAT TIME AND SEE IF THERE ARE INCREASES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT HIS NATURAL IMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ELECTED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED, WHO ARE NOT GETTING SICK.

WHO HAS NATURAL IMMUNITY?

WHAT IS CAUSING THEM TO HAVE THAT IMMUNITY?

ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE ARE NOT PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

JIM: THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT -- THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.

WE ARE DOING GREAT IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATION.

THE INFECTION RATE HAS GONE UP.

GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH COVERT AS OPPOSED TO BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU COULD BREAK YOUR LEG AND YOU GET A TEST.

LET'S MOVE ON.

AFGHANISTAN, WHERE TO BEGIN?

THIS HAS BEEN SO SAD AND TRAGIC.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE PRESIDNT HAS A LOT OF ANSWERING TO DO.

WHAT'S PARTICULAR FOR HIM, HE BUILT UP A LOT OF MOMENTUM.

HE HAD GOTTEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

NOW HE'S JUST CONSUMED WITH AFGHANISTAN.

THE PARTICULATE WHILE TRYING TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC.

BILL: IT'S TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

ONE IS GETTING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AS A DECISION.

NO ONE IS CRITICIZING THAT.

JOE BIDEN HAS CAMPAIGNED FOR YEARS THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET US OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

DONALD TRUMP SAID THE SAME THING.

THAT'S THE SECOND ISSUE.

NOW THAT THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, WHAT ABOUT THE WAY IT UNFOLDED.

IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

I THINK THAT CLEARLY WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THE COUNTRY TO FALL THE WAY IT DID, FOR THE TALIBAN TO MARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID.

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SENATOR JACK REED WHO IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN AN IMMEDIATE OVERSIGHT STARTING NEXT WEEK ON THIS ISSUE.

IF THERE IS ANYBODY WHO IS QUALIFIED TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED AND FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID, IT IS JACK REED.

JIM: IT IS SERIOUS WHEN THE RHODE ISLAND DELEGATE CRITICIZES A DEMOCRAT.

LEEANN: THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS.

THERE ARE REPORTS COMING OUT THAT THE INTELLIGENCE IS NOT THERE TO SUPPORT PULLING OUT THE WAY THAT WE DID.

THE PRESIDENT HAS FORGOTTEN THOSE REPORTS OR HE IS LYING ABOUT GETTING THAT INFORMATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.

IF THIS WAS A MATTER OF GENERALS AND SECRETARIES COME IN SAYING THIS IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD DOING AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK, AS THE PRESIDENT GETTING BAD INFORMATION?

JIM: MARK MILLEY HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE SAID THERE WAS NO INTELLIGENCE WE HAD THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

THAT MAKES ME MORE CONCERNED.

LOU: THE DEPTH OF THIS DEBACLE IS BREATHTAKING, TO THE EXTENT THAT I MADE NOTES.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUT THE BREATH OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A TERRORIST GROUP IS TAKEN CONTROL OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION.

THEY DID IT IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

THEY ARE THE WEALTHIEST TERRORIST GROUP IN TOTAL CONTROL OF A NATION.

THEY CONTROL THE POPPY FIELDS.

THEY HAVE WEALTH FOR THE REST OF THEIR EXISTENCE.

THEY HAVE COMPLETE POSSESSION AND CONTROL OF 600,000 U.S. MILITARY WEAPONS WITH TOP TECHNOLOGY.

THEY HAVE CONTROL OF 75,000 LUKE PERRY VEHICLES, 200 AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS.

THEY ACHIEVE THIS IN ONE WEEK.

THEY ALSO HAVE $85 BILLION IN U.S. FUNDS THAT WAS MEANT TO PAY FOR THE MILITARY AND AFGHANISTAN.

JIM: WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT DO?

LOU: WE HAVE PROVEN TO THE WORLD WE ARE AN UNRELIABLE PARTNER.

MOSCOW -- START WITH CHINA.

THEY ARE AIMED ON TAKING CONTROL OF TAIWAN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR ALLY IN PREVENTING THAT.

CHINA IS DOING MASS PRODUCTIONS TO THE TAIWANESE PEOPLE.

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN RELY ON THE U.S., WATCH AFGHANISTAN.

RUSSIA IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WITH UKRAINE.

BORIS JOHNSON TRIED FOR 48 HOURS TO GET BIDEN ON THE PHONE AND HE COULDN'T DO IT.

THEY ARE SO UPSET BECAUSE YOU KNOW LATERALLY, WE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW AND ABANDON UP TO 15,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS.

HOW ABOUT THEIR CITIZENS.

THEY GOT 30,000 CITIZENS IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE ABANDONED THEM.

JIM: WHAT CAN THE PRESIDENT DO?

BILL: I DISAGREE ON THIS PART OF IT.

THE BORIS JOHNSON'S OF THE WORLD TO WE WERE GOING TO GET AFTER OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON GETTING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

OUR ALLIES KNEW THI WAS COMING.

THERE IS NO DISPUTE ABOUT THAT.

THE SECOND PART IS AND I STARTED BY SAYING THIS WAS NOT WELL CONCEIVED AND IT WAS NOT WELL EXECUTED.

I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A MILITARY EXPERT.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT SENATOR REED AND SENATOR WHITEHOUSE HAVE TO SAY WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE FACTS AND FIND OUT WHAT LED UP TO THIS.

WE SHOULD TAKE A BREATH.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE PROCESSES CONTINUING.

IT IS MORE RAPID IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THERE.

PARTICULARLY OUR CITIZENS.

THE DRAMATIC IMAGE IN TERMS OF THE LIVES LOST HAS BEEN LESS THAN PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED.

IT HAS BEEN A MESS.

JIM: THIS PR CAMPAIGN OF THE KINDER AND GENTLER TALIBAN.

WHO BELIEVES THAT?

LEEANN: WOMEN HAVE BEEN BORN WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN TALIBAN RULE.

THEY HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL AND GOTTEN EDUCATED.

THAT WILL ALL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

BILL: I AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY.

IT'S HARD TO EVEN IMAGINE.

THAT'S NOT -- SO IT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP'S BEEN SAYING, JOE BIDEN.

THAT IS NOT OUR JOB TO THE NEXT 100 YEARS, TO RUN AFGHANISTAN AND SEND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE KNIGHTED STATES TO PAY IN MANY CASES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICES TO OVERSEE AND RUN AFGHANISTAN.

WE WENT IN THERE 20 YEARS AGO TO GET IN LINE AND THE TERRORISTS THERE WERE HARBORED THERE.

THEN WE STAYED.

FOR OVER 20 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD SOLDIERS LOSE THEIR LIFE.

WE HAVE SENT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THERE.

THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND THE AFGHAN ARMY HAD NO REAL INTEREST IN EVER STEPPING UP AND TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY SO WE COULD LEAVE.

BOTH PARTIES HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN.

THAT DECISION WAS MADE.

JIM: WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN BETTER PLANNING IT?

GET EVERYBODY OUT.

LOU: THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT IT, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IF WE ARE TO PROTECT OUR EMBASSY WITH THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND OR PROTECT THE AIR FORCE BASE.

THEY CHOSE THE EMBASSY.

BY SHUTTING DOWN THE AIR FORCE BASE, WE LOST TWO MAJOR RUNWAYS FOR TAKEOFFS.

WE LOST THE SECURITY OF WHERE THIS WAS LOCATED.

AS A WORLD POWER, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REGAIN OUR DIGNITY AFTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

WE ARE PLEADING WITH THE TALIBAN TO ALLOW OUR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE AIR FORCE BASE SO WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THERE.

LEEANN: AFTER THE PRESIDENT PLED WITH THEM TO NOT HURT OUR EMBASSY.

OUR EMBASSY IS ABANDONED, CHINA, RUSSIA, MANY OTHERS HAVE EMBASSIES THERE.

CHINA IS EATING OUR LUNCH ON THIS.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT HELPING THE TALIBAN REBUILD.

LOU: AFGHANISTAN HAS THE RICHEST RARE EARTH METALS, WHICH IS WHAT CHINA AND RUSSIA WANT.

THEY WILL HAVE POSSESSION OF ALL OF THOSE METALS BECAUSE THE TALIBAN CAN'T GET THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.

CHINA WILL BENEFIT AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO EAT OUR LUNCH.

LEEANN: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REASONS TO PREVENT TERRORIST CELLS, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN JUST AS QUICKLY AGAIN.

WE WASTED ALL OF THESE RESOURCES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE IDEA THAT THE TALIBAN COULD TAKE OVER THAT QUICKLY.

IN THIS CHAOS, WHO'S TO SAY -- WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY AMERICANS ARE STILL IN AFGHANISTAN.

IT'S CHAOS.

JIM: I'VE GOT TO HOLD YOU.

THANK YOU.

IT IS QUICK.

IT SEEMS QUICK BECAUSE WE HAVE A SPECIAL SEGMENT TO END THE PROGRAM.

THIS IS THE WINNER OF THE RHODE ISLAND PBS SCHOLARSHIP.

IT'S A HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENT PURSUING A CAREER IN BROADCASTING.

SHE IS THE FOURTH WINNER WE HAVE HAD.

SHE IS A GRADUATE OF COLGATE HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE STARTS AT MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE.

I SAT DOWN WITH HER TO TALK ABOUT AND INTERPRET SHE HAD.

JIM: WE ARE BACK, SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

TELL ME, WE WILL GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN JOURNALISM.

YOU GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT IT.

>> I AM SO EXCITED.

I NEVER MENTIONED -- IMAGINE GOING TO A WOMEN'S COLLEGE.

I FELL IN LOVE IT.

I LIKE THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE FOR THE MAJORS I'M LOOKING INTO.

IT'S EXCITING THINK ABOUT.

JIM: THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP IS YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM.

THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS TO GO INTO.

YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN A TASTE OF JOURNALISM.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

YOU STARTED AT THE BEACON SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

>> I MET JOHN HOWELL WHEN HE WAS COVERING A COMPETITION I WAS DOING.

IF YOU'RE INTO WRITING, YOU SHOULD DO IT INTERNSHIP HERE.

I STARTED DOING IT.

IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING USED TO HELP HECTIC EVERYTHING COULD BE.

I REALLY LIKED IT, RUNNING AROUND IN MEETING THESE INTERESTING PEOPLE.

A LOT OF TEENAGERS THINK THEIR HOMETOWN IS BORING THAT YOU HAVE TO ESCAPE FROM IT.

IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT IT'S A FASCINATING COMMUNITY WITH SO MUCH HISTORY.

THERE ARE SOMEBODY PEOPLE DOING IMPORTANT THINGS EVERY DAY, CHARITY, EDUCATION.

I GOT INTO FEELING THE VIBE OF THE COMMITTEE.

JIM: HE THREW YOU WRITE IN?

HE GAVE YOU ASSIGNMENTS.

>> IT WAS DAY ONE.

I GOT IN AND HE SAID GET IN THE CAR, WE ARE COVERING A YOUTH CAMP.

I GOT USED THE PACE.

I GREW TO LOVE IT.

JIM: IT'S KIND OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION, UNLESS YOU ARE WORKING ON A LONG PIECE.

THERE IS YOUR BYLINE.

PEOPLE START TO NOTICE?

>> I WOULD HAVE TEACHERS COME UP TO ME AND MENTIONED IT.

I WOULD HAVE MY FRIEND'S PARENTS CLIPPED ARTICLES.

I JUST LOVE READING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT I'VE WRITTEN.

I LEVEL HAS BROUGHT ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS MUCH ATTENTION.

IT'S A SATISFYING WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.

JIM: A LOT OF THE MEDIA IS UNDER FIRE.

DOES THAT CONCERN YOU WOULD ALL?

>> GOING FORWARD, I THINK ABOUT ETHICS.

I THINK ABOUT COVERING AN ISSUE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T BIASED.

IT IS SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE WHO NEED SYMPATHY.

BRINGING ATTENTION TO ISSUES THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

I KIND OF ENJOY THAT CHALLENGE.

I ENJOY THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT A STORY AND LOOKING AT THE SITUATION AND BRINGING THE STORY OUT OF IT AND SEEN DIFFERENT SIDES AND CREATING A NARRATIVE.

JIM: YOU KNOW ABOUT DOING THAT.

WHEN YOU GET TO SCHOOL -- DID YOU HAVE ONE STORY THAT STOOD OUT?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE.

I KNOW THERE WAS ONE THAT I DID.

THE LAST ONE RECENTLY WAS THE MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH THEY LOAN OUT FOR FREE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

I GOT THE IDEA BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAS CANCER.

SHE NEEDED A WHEELCHAIR.

I WANTED TO COVER THAT, TO BRING ATTENTION TO IT.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT SERVICE.

I THINK IT COULD HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.

JIM: PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT IF YOU HADN'T WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

>> I ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A MORE PUBLIC ATTENTION TO A SERVICE LIKE THAT.

JIM: WHAT IS THE SCHOLARSHIP GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

>> IT'S GOING TO ENABLE ME TO BE MORE FEARLESS, TO GO FORWARD ABOUT WEARING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF COLLEGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND NOT WORRY OR PUT PRESSURE ON MY FAMILY IN TERMS OF FINANCIALS.

THE KEY -- THERE WERE TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT IS FEARLESS AND MAKING A CHANGE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COST.

JIM: WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVE YOU COME BACK AND TELL US HOW IT'S GOING.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK AND WATCHING US EVERY WEEK.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

>> LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES.