“When I left Kandahar, I thought we were winning.”

In 24 minutes, Austen interviewed medics, pilots, generals and ordinary people caught in the warzone, outlined the history of the conflict, laid out the current problems both chronic and acute and accompanied soldiers on three missions. Helicopters collected casualties and corpses, and those who – thanks to the dearth of medical supplies and other equipment that delayed the rescue mission – moved from one status to the other before they could reach hospital. There was also a gunship that tried to take out mountainside snipers and create a safe passage for others trying to beat back the enemy on the ground. Austen retraced her steps back to Camp Bastion, home to 20,000 troops last time she was there but now neatly dismantled by the departing soldiers. LINK