It is 43 degrees in Tarin Kowt, but Kevin Rudd is barely breaking a sweat.
While the travelling media pack gulps down copious volumes of water and perspires like a mobile sauna, his white business shirt is immaculate and his brow dry.
The prime minister, accompanied by wife Therese Rein, is in Afghanistan to get a briefing on the drawdown of Australian forces and meet some of the 1000 soldiers who are going home for Christmas.
But, with an election not far away, he also has his mind focused on the message for 23 million people 11,000km away.
Australia went into Afghanistan in 2001 to help its allies destroy it as a terrorist stronghold.
"Mission accomplished," he says, with a touch of George W Bush.
Then the job was to train a new local army of skilled, ethical, international-standard security forces. Done.
However, Rudd warned a gathering of soldiers in the Tarin Kowt base gymnasium on Saturday they must remain vigilant in the months ahead.
There is more work to be done. Trainers remain in place in Kabul and Kandahar.
Australia's special forces will also have an ongoing role, which is yet to be determined.
But Rudd says all Australians can be proud of the success of the mission and the sacrifices made.
There is also a message in relation to boat arrivals, many of whom are minorities fleeing Afghanistan.
Stabilising the fractured nation will take time, and progress will be steady but measurable, Rudd says.
Oruzgan province's Governor Akhundzada - who met with Rudd and spoke to Australian reporters at the weekend - speaks very highly of the Aussie defence and aid effort over the past decade.
Asked to list the improvements, he says security, education, construction and "working with people".
About 200 schools have been built in the province since 2006.
There's a hint of Rudd in the governor's enthusiasm about his province's success.
And for all his fine clothes he, like Rudd, appears remarkably cool.
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