SSgt Gutierrez’s story, like that of other winners of the Medal of Honor and service Crosses, reveals unimaginable gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life. It also gives a peek at the American way of fighting that integrates all elements of military power into a force that can defeat any battlefield challengers. However, it also is a system that may no longer operate as effectively after hundreds of billions of dollars are stripped from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

Two recent books by experienced war correspondents tell important stories that call parts of the defense transformation program into question.

The most likely threat to Afghanistan's future is the drugs whose production has spread from the Afghan-Pakistani border and the traditional heartland around Kandahar to most provinces.

The message from Europe is clear: Israel and Sharon, not the terrorists,are to blame for future attacks by Palestinian terrorists on its citizens.

On Oct. 9, for the fifth time in my life, I went into a polling station and cast a vote in Australian federal election. The same day, several hours later and on the other side of the globe, millions of people were exercising their democratic right to vote for the first time in their lives.