Iraq has gone from being on the brink to being on the mend, and it clearly has some big advantages.

Fighting in cities is a totally different endeavor than obviously fighting out in the open.

We cleared many of their towns and cities and rural areas of al-Qaida Iraq and other insurgents.

Every civilian's death diminishes us, collectively.

ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.

The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti - is to take the resources you are provided with, understand what the strengths and weaknesses are and to employ them to the best overall effect.

I will not ever run for political office, I can assure you of that.