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

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.

Iran, as we have already discussed, has carried out very, very harmful activities inside Iraq. Funding, trainings, arming and, in some cases, even directing the activities of the special groups associated with the Jaish al-Mahdi and the Sadr Militia.

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

Political progress will only take place if sufficient security exists.

Every civilian's death diminishes us, collectively.

Progress in Iraq has always been about teams of people and teams of teams - and ultimately about young men and women, Iraqi as well as people from the coalition.