"It's like the Baghdad class of 2003 is now the Kabul class of 2009." - NBC's Richard Engel

Brian Stelter reports for the NY Times on how Afghanistan has returned to the forefront of the national media and looks at the challenges that face the journalists and the networks trying ramp up their coverage:

Like Iraq, Afghanistan poses several vexing problems for journalists. Chief among them is safety: amid deteriorating security in the country and the ever-present threat of kidnapping, news organizations have increased precautions for their staff members in the field.

The security concerns are compounded by the country's complex political landscape and the famously tough terrain. "It's an extremely difficult place to operate out of," said Tony Maddox, an executive vice president and managing director of CNN International.

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