The hardworking staff trooped over to the International House of Politics Friday afternoon to hear New York Times reporter David Rohde speak at the Joan Shorenstein Center (audio here).

Rohde, as you’ll doubtless remember, was held captive by the Taliban for seven months last year. At the Shorenstein event, he seemed to emphasize two things:

1) It’s no use building schools, hospitals, etc. in Afghanistan until some reliable security has been established there

2) The rank-and-file Taliban are flat out crazy (our words, not his)

An impressive/depressive presentation.