tonight, from afghanistan, the deadline. we're here with u.s. troops. as president obama at a nato summit in lisbon maps out the way forward. but what does it really mean for americans in harm's way? we're on the front lines with one of the top commanders of this war. also, the outrage over the new airport secity measures back home on this busy weekend for travelers. and, richard engel, tonight in a part of this country few of us have ever seen. not at all what you might us have ever seen. not at all what you might expect. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening from afghanistan. we are here tonight on what may be a major turning point in the war here. today, for the first time, president obama declared he wants the americans here to be done with major combat by the end of 2014. the date was agreed on by the president and nato leaders meeting today in lisbon. as the deadline for afghan troops to take over their country's security. but, like previous goals in this war, this one could still yet become a moving target. given the political climate in afghanistan itself, and the taliban's stubborn resilience. tonight i'll take you to the battlefield with a view from the ground and the air. but first, to lisbon, where nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd has more on today's nato agreement. chuck, good evening. >> well, good evening, lester. look, there's an answer, though very tentative, to the question many u.s. military families have

been asking for some time. when is the war in afghanistan finally going to come to an end? gathering this morning with nato leaders, president obama came away with what he hoped for. a nato-endorsed date for major troop reductions in afghanistan. december 31st, 2014. >> here in lisbon, we have launched the process by which the afghan people will once again become masters in their own house. >> reporter: and the president seconded the cautious optimism from nato's secretary-general. >> my goal is to make sure that by 2014 we have transitioned afghans. >> reporter: but he left wiggle room. >> it's hard to anticipate exactly what is going to be necessary to keep the american people safe as of 2014. i'll make that determination when i get there. >> reporter: and officials insist major troop reductions won't happen until they are satisfied the afghans can handle their own security. >> that was my goal. >> reporter: in fact, nato's

presence in afghanistan could go well past 2014. thanks to a new security agreement with the country. >> if the taliban or anyone else aims to write us out, they can forget it. we will stay as long as it takes to finish our job. >> reporter: this summit has not been without its drama. in particular, the president pushed to persuade senate republicans to stop delaying ratification of the s.t.a.r.t. nuclear arms treaty with russia. in private meetings, obama and his aides repeatedly urged european leaders to endorse s.t.a.r.t. publicly. and the russian president, also in lisbon, went public, too. saying if we fail to move this forward, the world will not become safer. at a closing press conference, president obama put the disagreement in pure political terms. >> this is an issue that traditionally has received strong bipartisan support. there's no other reason not to do it. than the fact that, you know,

washington has become a very partisan place. >> reporter: but he dodged accusing his chief nemesis on the issue, arizona republican jon kyl, of being motivated by politics. >> i have spoken to senator kyl directly. senator kyl has never said to me that he does not want to see s.t.a.r.t. ratified. >> reporter: back to afghanistan. president obama also said today during his one-on-one meeting with afghanistan president hamid karzai that karzai brought up his concern about the united states' use of private security, contractors, president obama defended the use, lester by saying, you know what, until i can send u.s. aid workers into certain provinces to build schools without fear of the taliban, then he won't use them. but for now he has to do it. lester? >> chuck todd with the president in lisbon for us tonight. chuck, thanks. our chief foreign correspondent richard engel is here with me at bagram airfield. richard, you watched the drawdown in iraq. you've covered this war. what does this mean for u.s. troops?

>> four more years of combat operations, lester. that means for many troops, at least one, possibly two more combat deployments, and after that a relatively open-ended training operation. it means four more years in afghanistan, just to get where we are in iraq today. >> all right. nbc's richard engel. richard, thanks very much. we'll note you'll be back later in the broadcast with another story for us. we want to continue here tonight, earlier i took a chopper ride with a top marine in helmand province. major general richard mills. we went to the town of marjah where coalition forces and the taliban engage in one of the fiercest battles of this war. months after the massive offensive began, mills and his troops continue to fight the enemy, while also trying to win over the people. wit was one of the war's biggest offenses, the battle of marjah. a small farming town in the poppy capital of the world, helmand province, and a taliban strong hold.

a year ago before the battle marines couldn't even fly over this town, the ground fire was so intense. today, major general richard mills who commands this region, is taking me there by chopper, albeit a heavily armed one. to show me why he says marjah is a model of u.s. success. we land at company outpost kelly where marines fought and shed blood in some of the fiercest battles. only recently, did they tell me, did it become safe enough to take a walk outside their perimeter. >> we fought here in this area, down these roads, in all the surrounding terrain that you see every day, several times a day, for hours at a time, for our first 4 1/2 months here on our deployment. >> reporter: ieds remain a deadly foe outside marjah's center. and so no chances are taken for part of our journey. we ride in a mine-resistant vehicle. >> the wounds that we get from these really, cruel, senseless weapons are horrific. multiple amputations.

absolutely devastating wounds to the human body. i've seen it all of our young marines today who get up every day, pick up that weapon and move outside the wire, knowing what's out here. yet they do it. they do it well. >> reporter: but in marjah's center, where bullets once flew, we are free to walk. the marines have secured this part of town. and built relationships with local leaders. i ask a local shop owner about marjah then and now. he says, things are better, and says we want peace, not fighting. that's what we all want. general mills is not concerned talk of exit strategies and time lines will leave residents feeling abandoned by the americans. >> we've always made it clear that we are here to provide them security so they can begin to develop, to work with their security forces, to raise their capacity and once they're ready to stand up on their own two feet, that we would leave. >> reporter: the marines very badly want to replicate their success in marjah in other parts of helmand province. the question is, what happens when the marines leave?

already a first attempt to build a local police force here failed. they were outsiders, corrupt and alienated the population. a new force with many local men is faring better. as these marines do their part in taking the offensive, while s laying the sides of an eventual handover to afghan troops they make so with no illusion the taliban will go quietly. still the man leading the fight here believes the success in marjah can be replicated. >> there are other places in helmand province that i've still got tasks to do. we're still going to have casualties. and there's still work to be done. each of them will eventually become marjahs and each of them will become even better than marjah. >> and to underscore the fight still to come and the battle still being waged there, the marines announced this week they're bringing in 16 heavy big batt battle tanks to give them more fire power in that region. turn now to the big story

back home. the outrage over the new screening rules on this busy travel weekend. it's only going to get busier this week. cbs's kristen welker is standing by tonight at l.a.x. with more. kristen? >> lester, the new security measures can be found at 65 airports nationwide, including right here at l.a.x., where a lot of passengers are expressing serious concerns about how these new rules are going to impact an already very hectic travel season. long lines at los angeles international airport during the holidays. and says the new, stiffer security measures are adding to his stress. >> it's a ridiculous waste of time. >> reporter: with an estimated 1.6 million people expected to fly this week, 400,000 more than last year, the new measures have people around the country talking. >> i think the entire process is invasive. >> if it keeps us safe, i'm not too worried about it. >> reporter: today the president weighed in. saying increased security is necessary, especially given

recent close calls like the so-called underwear bomber who nearly brought down the delta northwest flight last christmas. >> what i said to the tsa is that you have to constantly refine and measure whether what we're doing is the only way to make sure that passengers on planes are safe. >> reporter: marlene mccarthy of rhode island is all for super safety but said she had a terrible experience at the airport. >> i was surprised and i felt very invaded by it. >> reporter: mccarthy, a cancer survivor, who has a prosthetic breast, says a tsa official stepped over the line with her. >> she took her two hands, she touched the prosthesis, she moved it up and down and left and right and then she said, you're okay. >> reporter: some passengers have filed lawsuits. the internet is buzzing with thousands of people venting their frustrations. there's even a site that purports to post the views of tsa workers.

many are anonymously saying they don't like the new rules, either. one writes, it is not comfortable to come to work knowing full well that my hands will be feeling another man's private parts. but tsa officials say recent polls show about 80% of the traveling public support the increased security. and they are predicting a smooth holiday travel. >> we will be thorough in our screening to make sure that everybody gets on every flight at a high level ofs can and assurance that everybody else around them has been thoroughly screened. >> reporter: there's currently an internet-led movement urging passengers to protest on wednesday. this as the tsa released a video this afternoon reminding people if they opt to have the pat-down, they can do so in a private room, and with a witness of their choosing with them. lester? >> nbc's kristen welker in los angeles. kristen, thanks. when "nbc nightly news" continues from bagram airfield in afghanistan, we'll meet the

american mom and lawyer they call 911 around here. and later, richard engel shows us a part of this country that few get to see. it sure doesn't look like a war zone. ♪ [ deb ] people don't just come to ge capital for money. they come to us for help. at ge capital, we've been financing taylor guitars for over eight years, helping them build a strong dealer network. bringing music to people... i like that. ♪ ♪ [ bob ] i didn't know you could play. i didn't either. ♪ nothing beats prevacid®24hr. just one pill helps keep you heartburn free for a full 24 hours. prevent the acid that causes frequent heartburn with prevacid®24hr, all day, all night. nothing works better. all day, all night. [scraping] [piano keys banging]

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your doctor may use genetic tests to determine treatment. don't stop taking plavix without talking to your doctor as your risk of heart attack or stroke may increase. people with stomach ulcers or conditions that cause bleeding should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding risk, so tell your doctor when planning surgery. tell your doctor all medicines you take including aspirin especially if you've had a stroke. if fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. these may be signs of ttp, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than two weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. [ female announcer ] talk to your doctor about plavix. we're back from bagram airfield in afghanistan. tonight we introduce you to an american woman who is here very far from home. not because she's in uniform

fighting for her country, but because she's fighting for her clients. kim motley is a mother of three. a lawyer. and one of afghanistan's go-to advocates for foreigners who find themselves locked up in afghan jails. nothing was going to keep kim motley away from watching her 9-year-old son play in a championship soccer game. >> good job. >> reporter: but motley is not your average soccer mom. this wife and mother of three is a former mrs. wisconsin. and a lawyer whose private legal practice is about as far from this north carolina soccer field as you can imagine. kabul, afghanistan. where she navigates the afghan justice system, defending foreigners accused of crimes. you know, when i heard your story the first thing i wanted to say, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? you've heard that before. >> i have heard that before. >> what's the answer? >> the answer is i'm just trying to help out the legal system in afghanistan. just trying to represent my clients and make sure they get justice here.

>> even if it means visiting places like kabul's notorious prison to see them. she is currently appealing the murder conviction of south african contractor philip young, to afghanistan's supreme court. police admit he shot a man who first fired at him. still, he was sentenced to 16 years. >> in his court hearing he didn't have a translator. his attorney barely spoke up for him. there was no witnesses, no evidence that was presented. >> reporter: motley does not speak the local languages. with the help of interpreters, she has managed to teach herself the law, and the justice system. a system she is not afraid to challenge. >> i do do some things that some would say is against the culture. for instance, i don't wear a head scarf in court. and again, that goes to me saying, if i'm going to practice law in afghanistan, then i'm going to practice law in afghanistan. >> reporter: she represents the holy koran off her ipad to help argue points of traditional

sharia law. >> if you want to be effective. that's what you have to do. >> reporter: her nickname among foreigners here is 911. >> i get asked to help a lot of people and frankly a lot of embassies here. they have my number. and when their citizens are in trouble, they give out my number. >> reporter: motley's forceful advocacy has not come without a price. she's had threats made against her and she is often forced to move to different locations here in kabul. then, there are the threats everyone here faces. things like suicide bombings. motley spends about nine months out of the year in kabul. staying in touch with her family via skype. >> so tell me something good, guys. >> reporter: her husband claude holds the fort at home. >> and we know that we're always feared that, you know, something might happen. that's one that we always are in touch, because we make sure that, you know, everything is going well. >> reporter: are you at all concerned for your safety? >> i do have, you know, some concerns every now and then. but i just work. i feel that for me, this is where i'm supposed to be. this is where i'm supposed to be

practicing law. this is where i'm supposed to be fighting for justice. >> kim motley says she understands that some will see her story and judge her choices. but she says this is a decision that she and her family made together. there's still more ahead here from "nightly news" from bagram air force base. other news of the day, including news from the vatican that's making big headlines around the world. it's simple physics... a body at rest tends to stay at rest... while a body in motion tends to stay in motion. staying active can actually ease arthritis symptoms. but if you have arthritis, staying active can be difficult. prescription celebrex can help relieve arthritis pain so your body can stay in motion. because just one 200mg celebrex a day can provide 24 hour relief for many with arthritis pain and inflammation. plus, in clinical studies, celebrex is proven to improve daily physical function so moving is easier. and celebrex is not a narcotic. when it comes to relieving your arthritis pain,

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tonight for a surprising new comments about one of the most controversial issues in the catholic church. nbc's stephanie gosk has been following the story. she joins us tonight from our london bureau. good evening, stephanie. >> reporter: good evening, lester. the news tonight is about condom use, not as a form of birth control but as a method to prevent hiv/aids. in a book to be released next week the pope says that in some limited cases the use of condoms may be appropriate to combat the spread of the disease. specifically benedict xvi uses the example of male prostitutes. the pontiff goes on to emphasize that the vatican still bans the use of condoms as birth control, and that they should only be used as a last resort to stop the spread of aids. abstinence and monogamy are still, he says, the most moral line of defense. lester? >> stephanie gosk in london, thanks. getting some buzz here today among the troops, tonight's big game between army and notre dame. an historic rivalry and the

first time football returns to yankee stadium since 1987. this is the new yankee stadium. and as you can see in this time lapse video, the conversion is complete. that army/notre dame game begins here on nbc at 7:00 eastern time. up next here tonight, more from our richard engel on some incredible beauty in this battle zone. a part of afghanistan you haven't seen before. when it comes to investing, no one person has all the answers. so td ameritrade doesn't give me just one person. questions about retirement? i talk to their retirement account specialists. bonds? grab the phone. fixed-income specialist. td ameritrade knows investors sometimes need real, live help. not just one broker... a whole team there to help... to help me decide what's right for me. people with answers at td ameritrade. get up to $500 when you open an account. [ water pouring ]

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finally tonight we want to show you a very different side of this war-torn country. afghanistan's beautiful landscape. a natural wonder, it can be find in bamyan province. once the scene of taliban destruction it's now the setting of a remarkable rebirth. we get the story from nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel. >> an afghan legend says god made the world in seven days. but then it found a pile of stone left over, and with these extra rocks, he made afghanistan. and made it a natural wonder. band-e amir is afghanistan's first national park. 230 square miles of mountains, waterfalls, and unpolluted, suspended lakes. we find a group of men and boys braving the snow melt waters. they go in tied to ropes so they don't drown. the cold, sacred water is thought to purify the soul.

but with a shock. dave lawson is from the wildlife conservation society which overseas band-e amir park. it's funded by an $8 million u.s. aid grant. >> if you lose your wild areas you're losing a part of what makes us human. >> reporter: band-e amir is in the central province of bamyan, high in the hindu kush mountains. it's a safe area, because the local people believed to be the descendants of genghis khan, hate al qaeda and the taliban. they harbor an old grudge. just six months before 9/11, the intolerant militants dynamited dammian's two historic buddha statues, declaring them ungodly. the people of bamyan have never forgiven the taliban. engineers are still reinforcing this cliff where the giant buddhas and a network of smaller shrines were carved.

but the ultimate fate of this archaeological site, one of the most important in central asia, has yet to be determined. many people in this area would like to see at least one of the buddhas rebuilt. pushing for rebuilding is the governor of bamyan. she's the only female governor in afghanistan, and has been embraced and respected. in a meeting of elders, she sits in a chair. the men listen on the ground. she tells me her vision is to open bamyan to tourists, skiers, hikers and backpackers. >> we are focusing for ecotourism to respect the cultures, and not to damage the environment, because bamyan has a good environment. >> reporter: already afghans are enjoying their first, safe, national park. on an open plain we find riders playing a game somewhat akin to polo. i joined them for a game but

quickly realized this is polo, afghan style. the ball is a sacrificed goat. the object of the game is to pick it up from the saddle, defend the goat from other riders, and toss it into a hole to score a goal. it's a pretty rough game. there is a lot of elbowing and shoving, and kicking. but it is a national sport. the government's plan is to turn 10% of all of afghanistan into protected wildlife areas. and while afghanistan is better known for war, many here are embracing the idea of preserving the culture and environment. richard engel, nbc news, bamyan. >> and that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt reporting from bagram airfield in afghanistan. i'll see you tomorrow morning on

"today." then right back here tomorrow evening. good night, everyone.