James B. Cunningham: “I do not think there is a strategy of attrition or withdrawal that will work in any timeframe that we would want to see…”

It represents a new beginning for Iraq and marks a new phase in which Iraqis themselves will elect a government and write a new constitution.

A flawed deal on withdrawal of U.S. forces--one not grounded in the context of an actual peace agreement--risks the collapse of Afghanistan into chaos.

I think that, under the circumstances, that timeline is probably too short and the rate of withdrawal is too steep.

An agreement which fails in fact to open the way to peace for Afghanistan will be a defeat for U.S. leadership and values.