Drawing on his extensive experiences as commander of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq, Brigadier General H. R. McMaster discussed the challenges of command in counterinsurgency operations.

At this AEI event, Kimberly Kagan will discuss her new book, which provides readers with a thorough understanding of how the operations, widely known as "the surge," dramatically brought Iraq away from the tragedy of civil war.

AEI has covered the Iraq conflict from start to finish, as well as the longer war in Afghanistan in the face of a looming 2014 deadline for Afghan security forces to take over.

The administration’s drawdown is, at best, a gamble. But national security isn’t a game of roulette. Why not do what it takes to win the war, rather than run away by providing too few resources?

The United States' most important Asian ally--Japan--proved a difficult relationship to manage during Robert Gates' tenure. While not resolving many outstanding issues in US-Japan relations, Gates did manage to keep ties on track and focused on constructive engagement.

It is too soon to know what General Stanley McChrystal might ask for, but any sound strategy to achieve the president's stated goals in Afghanistan will require more forces.

In this age of ballooning U.S. debt, it’s hardly surprising that many Democrats and Republicans are pushing to reduce American military spending. But a closer examination of what’s at stake reveals just how troubling the embrace of defense austerity will prove to be.