It is both an eerie and satisfying feeling to note the increasing amount of attention being shown to Afghanistan in American news media reports these days.

Armed Forces Network here pipes in programming over satellite from CNN, Fox News and MSNBC so we can watch a little while we are in the dining facility and some staff section offices. It is quite an experience to listen to soundbites from interviews and coverage half a world away and know they are talking about you and your teammates on the ground here.

About two weeks ago, presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama was here in Kabul. Even though he didn't come to this base, Camp Phoenix, I know he went to another base "down range" and visited with some troops. We expect Sen. John McCain will do the same at some point. Both have pledged to send more forces here.

It's a good thing, too. In our case - Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix - we need more personnel so we can increase the number of trainers and mentors that can be assigned to Afghan National Army and Police units. Their ranks are growing, so more trainers, mentors and advisors are needed.

Our commander has been forthright in publicly stating that some 3,000 more mentors are now needed to properly support the Afghan forces. Those additional forces can come from any of the participating nations. The bottom line is that developing a capable and responsible Afghan security team to conduct counterinsurgency operations on its own is the strategic goal.

Having submitted several previous entries to this blog, this may be a good opportunity to mention how and why we got to this point and why we are still here in Afghanistan. I will start with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Everyone remembers that. Those of us in the New York National Guard have our own very personal reasons for never forgetting because so many of us served at Ground Zero amidst the destruction, and death. Our soldiers and airmen and women helped recover bodies there, in addition to providing security.

The al Qaeda attackers used Afghanistan as their base from which to plan and launch their attack, and the Taliban, which had taken over in Afghanistan, was giving them safe haven and protection. The consipirators' trail led back to Afghanistan, and when the Taliban refused to turn them over, America responded, with coalition support, and took the fight to them. Our forces were assisted by several Afghan groups, including the Northern Alliance, who were opposed to the Taliban and eager to be allies with America and other nations.

With the Taliban pushed out, coalition nations worked with moderate Afghans to bring about an interim government through an international agreement known as the Bonn Accords, which set a framework for international assistance in December 2001. The U.N. Security Council endorsed the agreement, and included in that framework was international support for security and to reform social, economic and political institutions. Our mission to help Afghanistan develop the security forces it needs to support its government, protect its people and enforce the rule of law stems from this.

It will be seven years this fall since the U.S. and other allies have been here in Afghanistan, and I can understand why many Americans back home may wonder "what's taking so long." This is a huge undertaking here, and there are many challenges to overcome, not the least of which is the enemy - the Taliban.

And despite the violence here, Afghanistan has made a lot of progress. It has a constitution. It has held free and fair elections. It has an Army that has already had victories over the enemy, and the police forces are undergoing enormous change. Yet, there is so much more that needs to be done.

Who is this enemy known as the Taliban? The name roughly translated means student or one seeking knowledge. Basically they are a conglomeration of radical Islamists with a distorted few of the world and are determined to regain power in Afghanistan through jihad and export their philosophy and aggression from there.

They are usually described as xenophobic. Their normal mode of operation is to terrorize people into submission through extreme brutality and murder. They are determined to destablize and prevent all efforts for recontruction and reform. They are deadly serious and more barbarous in their behavior and actions than words can tell.

During the period they were in power in Afghanistan, there was incredible abuse and oppression, even greater poverty and deprivation, and al Qaeda moved in and set up shop to embark on worldwide jihad.

And so, who are we? Back in 2004, I completed a short video production for the Guard that was first used inside our team and then I started showing it at public presentations. I call it "In the Arena," in reference to a famous Theodore Roosevelt quote (more on that in my next entry).

It starts at Ground Zero with our Fighting 69th on the pile working with the fire department and police and other civilian first responders. My cameraman captured some quick comments from some of our soldiers and one really stands out - "We are the National Guard. We are supposed to help people. I would rather do this than anything else."

My favorite military leader quote comes from a Union Army Civil War general. I forgot which general but I never forgot the quote: "The human heart is at the root in all matters concerning war."

It is clear what is in the hearts of the Taliban. I hope it is clear what is in our hearts, too.

To view photos accompanying this blog entry, visit the accompanying photo gallery, "Pictures from the Front," by clicking here.