David Petraeus

Leaders of the various Iraqi elements will likely have their own militias, and there will be endless rounds of brinkmanship on the road to post-Islamic State boundaries, governing structures, and distribution of power and resources. ”

Iraq does have many, many different tensions. ”

Being in combat is not unending high-five moments. ”

I refuse to use terms like 'optimist' or 'pessimist' and instead prefer 'realist.' ”

The bottom line is, you really have to commit to something if you're going to be successful in it. ”

There were very few people who were both intercollegiate athletes and Star Men. ”

After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. ”

If you don't want to have to kill or capture every bad guy in the country, you have to reintegrate those who are willing to be reconciled and become part of the solution instead of a continued part of the problem. And then, above all, the resources. ”

Iraq is a country I came to know well and the place where I spent some of the most consequential years of my life. ”

I can't for the life of me think of the link between Iraq and why a fruit vendor self-immolates in Tunisia and cracks this seemingly solid crust that turns out to be so fragile that societal unrest touches off. ”