John D.S. Allen: “This unfortunate act stands in stark contrast to the many years during which U.S. forces have demonstrated deep respect…”

I think you have to ask the question why is he so fatigued? And I think at least part of that picture is that he has spent much of the last eight years frustrated that his efforts to be a teaching pope... have been hampered by a kind of…

First, sign the bilateral security agreement and, in so doing, embrace Afghanistan's desire for a long-term security relationship with the United States, NATO, and key partners.

Their question is how are we going to implement that doctrine at the retail level, OK, in the trenches? Are we going to put the emphasis on judgment or are we going to put the emphasis on mercy?

These conversations are remarkably frank. This is not attack-ad politics, but they are extraordinarily conscious of how much hinges on this decision.