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"Obama’s plan for fighting the Islamic State is predicated on having a credible and effective Iraqi ally on the ground in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi."

"Five service members, including a general officer, were removed from Afghanistan. None of the 16 service members have faced court-martial."

“The officer wrote that the enemies of the Kunduz operation were 'moral cowardice' and a ‘profound lack of strategy.’”

“The U.S. Army decided to retain a Green Beret it had planned to kick out after he physically confronted a local Afghan commander accused of raping a boy over the course of many days.”

“U.S. military leaders faced skepticism Thursday on Capitol Hill as they made the case that President Obama’s strategy in Iraq and Syria is beginning to show results.”

As fighting intensified, the U.N. envoy to Syria pleaded with the United States and Russia to intervene "at the highest level" to revive struggling peace talks.

Efforts to squeeze the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have put the self-declared caliphate on shaky ground, leaving the group in perhaps its most vulnerable state.

It seems audaciously optimistic that America would only apply a larger Army against the problems our military leaders want it applied against.

"Stars and Stripes may lose its federal funding — $12 million a year — under a proposal being considered by the Department of Defense."

We win wars, battles and campaigns when we demonstrate a combination of discipline, responsibility, competence and attitude.

“Refusing to prosecute an effective strategy against ISIS only prolongs the suffering.”

“Call comes as the president outlines plans to send up to 250 more U.S. military personnel to Syria.”

“Ashraf Ghani vowed that Afghanistan will ‘execute’ enemies of the state and undertake preparations for an extended war.”

“The U.S. has opened a new line of combat against the Islamic State, directing the military’s six-year-old Cyber Command for the first time to mount computer-network attacks.”

“President Obama will announce the addition of 250 Special Operations troops to the American advisory force in Syria.”

"If this trend of disrespect to the military continues it will undermine the strength of the officer corps to the point where good men and women will forgo service."

Khalilzad says one of the biggest problems facing Afghanistan continues to be its poor relationship with its neighbor, Pakistan.

Russia’s ruse: Obscure outsiders’ understanding of what is taking place, and thereby prevent the US, NATO, or the EU from taking decisive action against Moscow.

Universal to all combatants is utter exhaustion, sleep deprivation and the occasional ability to sleep in the worst of environments when the body said it had to.

This report assesses the campaign against the Islamic State, focusing on the military and political lines of effort.

The Government of Iraq this week formalized its work with the U.S. Institute of Peace to advance reconciliation at all levels.

"Today’s American soldier is by common consent the world’s finest, even history’s finest, but the United States doesn’t win its wars."

We have met the enemy and the enemy is bureaucratic red tape.

"The White House moved to tamp down suggestions that ties with Saudi Arabia are fraying."

Dave Kilcullen’s latest, reviewed by the New York Times.