If you look at casualties, you find countries that had much higher loss rates per capita than the US. Denmark comes to mind, the United Kingdom, they have suffered heavy losses at various points, the Germans as well.

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

Afghanistan has other enormous challenges as well, including a political system that is still very much developing, although there has been some progress in the past several years.

Political progress will only take place if sufficient security exists.

The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.

Don't forget Yemen, where there are also extremist elements, as we saw recently.

If you look at casualties, you find countries that had much higher loss rates per capita than the US. Denmark comes to mind, the United Kingdom, they have suffered heavy losses at various points, the Germans as well.