A few decades ago, trees covered an estimated 50 percent of Afghanistan. Now, an official says that figure is just 2 percent. The main reason is the illegal harvesting and trade of timber. A visit to Kunar province, near the Pakistan border, reveals that many people, from top officials down, are involved.

Chuck Hagel is the first Secretary of Defense to have served in Vietnam and the only veteran to hold that job who was not an officer. Hagel was also awarded two purple hearts for war injuries. Last weekend he traveled to Afghanistan and pinned purple hearts on soldiers there and established his credibility with the troops as a secretary of defense who's been in their boots.

U.S. and other NATO troops are spending less time fighting the Taliban and more time making local Afghan governments self-sufficient. It's a slow process.

Chuck Hagel took his first trip abroad as defense secretary to Afghanistan this past weekend, and some things did not go as planned.

The allegations come as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel continues his first visit to the nation as Pentagon Chief – and after a deadly explosion in Kabul on Saturday that the Taliban called a message to the new defense secretary.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is taking his first overseas trip since taking the top job at the Pentagon. He'll be visiting troops and key officials in Afghanistan. Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's David Welna, who is along on the trip.