The United States, facing deepening economic and fiscal woes at home, is preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Elliott Abrams argues that President Obama's recent State of the Union address settled the matter on the existence of an Obama Doctrine.

Leslie H. Gelb says the Obama administration's announcement of a quick end to U.S. combat in Afghanistan is a surprise decision of strategic skill and political courage.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote his theological treatise, Summa Theologica, from 1265 to 1274. This section deals with which actions, in war, are lawful and unlawful.

Colonel Gregory K. James, USA; Colonel Larry Holcomb, USMC; and Colonel Chad T. Manske, USAF argue that the success of Operation ODYSSEY DAWN, despite its complexity, validates joint planning processes, joint education foundations, joint training opportunities, and joint exercises.

Leslie H. Gelb discusses the need to examine the rationale for, and potential consequences of, going to war with Iran.

Max Boot argues that the current plan to downsize the U.S. military is a repeat of past mistakes.

Max Boot argues that cuts to defense spending have the potential to devastate the U.S. armed forces, and if left unchecked, will do more damage to their fighting capacity than the Taliban, al-Qaeda, or any other external foe could inflict.

Iran's threat to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz is intended to signal its deterrent capacity to the United States and bolster leadership at home amid biting economic sanctions, says expert Michael Elleman.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon states, "Now that attention is turning to what women endure during war, it is time to ensure they get a say in the peace."

Captain Bradley S. Russell, USN and Max Boot argue that Iran must realize that by initiating direct hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, it risks American retaliation against their covert nuclear-weapons program.

Leslie H. Gelb explains why federalism is the best approach for creating a peaceful and independent Iraq.

Max Boot says that at the moment, Iraq is an uneasy mixture of good and bad, volatile and stable, healthy and diseased—a strange witches' brew that could blow up or, just possibly, turn into an elixir for the entire region.

Max Boot says that by pulling out U.S. troops from Iraq prematurely--against the advice of military commanders --President Obama has made another war there more likely.

Meghan O'Sullivan states, "While Americans have been welcoming the 'end' of the war in Iraq over the past few days, a political crisis of serious proportions has been unfolding in Baghdad."

Leslie H. Gelb interviews U.S. vice president Joe Biden.

Richard N. Haass assesses the lessons of the Iraq war, concluding that wars of choice will in the future be harder to wage.

As the U.S. military formally ends operations in Iraq, four top expert voices in the debate on the war differ over whether it merited the cost in blood, treasure, and U.S. credibility.

This meeting was presented by the Women and Foreign Policy Program.

Ed Husain says if the United States can't count on Iraq by now, it won't be able to hold sway with other nations in the region.