"Old Soldiers Never Die." The Douglas MacArthur Analogy Fits Neither Petraeus Nor McChrystal. But That Is Probably No Comfort to the President.

The AfPak Debate: Biden, Holbrooke and Rubin

A Counterinsurgency Parable: Hi-Tech Drone vs. Stoned Farmer

Gates: Taliban Gains Would "Empower" al Qaeda

Quote of the Day: Obama on al Qaeda

Update: Congress Advances Iran Human Rights Funding

"Realism Doesn't Have to be Granite-Hearted"

If Greg Craig Is Leaving Anyway....

Word to the Wise

Kabul Notes

Deep Denial

Hillary on Iran's Uranium: Not So Reassuring

Pew Shocker: 61 Percent Would Bomb Iran If Talks Fail

An Afghanistan Poll That Should Worry Obama

A Bit of Comic Relief From Official Saudi Television: An Important Sheikh Describes the Virgins of Paradise. And How Does He Know?

How Not to Wage Counterinsurgency, 2005 Edition

Taliban v. "Camels"

U.S., Egypt Co-Sponsor a Resolution on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. What the Hell is Going on? Only the A.P. Reported This: I Wonder Why.

A Hero Dies in Afghanistan

The Realist