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

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.

The Islamic State fighters in Mosul are dead men walking and I think they increasingly know it.

Money can be a very important form of "ammunition," although we should never forget that when you're being shot at the most important ammunition is real ammunition.

This cannot be the United States being the air force for Shia militias, or a Shia on Sunni Arab fight.

Every civilian's death diminishes us, collectively.

Let's remember that the reason we are there is that we have vital interests in Afghanistan, hugely important national interests, as do the other countries involved.