Let's say I'm on the policy wonk end of the spectrum. As much as I can dive into a briefing book and really work to master various subjects that come before my desk, I'm still not an expert on a huge amount of the stuff that we work on.

It could be another election where the alignments between Republicans and Democrats are different than they were this time and who a foreign country prefers.

But what I would say to my successor is that it is important not just to shoot but to aim. And it is important, in this seat, to make sure that you're making your best judgments based on data, intelligence, the information that's coming from your commanders and folks on the ground and you're not being swayed by politics.

The terror attacks have reshaped the campaign and may have given another boost to Donald Trump.

When friends are in trouble, America Helps.

This is a matter of Congress authorizes spending. They order me to spend.

In our democracy and our civic discourse, it seems as if folks who take religion the most seriously are sometimes also those who are suspicious of those not like them.