As famine spreads in Somalia, it is more important than ever to ensure that food aid reaches the starving. It's unlikely that the US military, haunted by the memory of Black Hawk Down, will step in. And as long as supply chains are easily looted, hundreds of thousands of Somalis will continue to starve while al Qaeda-linked militants perpetuate conflict and instability in the country.

Grave challenges face each of America’s armed services: the Navy’s size is shrinking while its operational demands increase; the Army and the Marine Corps are on the chopping block for further troop reductions; and the Air Force is aging rapidly. (INCLUDES VIDEO)

For the past couple of weeks, we have been debating whether the GOP presidential field was slipping into isolationism. However, President Obama made clear that if his Republican challengers want the "come home America" vote, they'll have to wrest it from him.

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?

Concern about civil liberties for the average American has risen sharply over the last decade since the 9/11 attacks. But Americans want government to err on the side of protecting them against possible terrorist attacks.

McChrystal's support will assure Americans that Obama has made the right choice, but in the meantime, voters just want a coherent strategy and a commitment to execute that strategy fully and successfully.

Mr Obama's message to Gen David Petraeus was clear: time is up. Ten years, a trillion dollars and 1,600 American casualties later, the White House is essentially abandoning the attempt to build law and order in Afghanistan.