I trust that the administration will carefully consider the pros and cons of reducing or increasing forces. Since there was little new in the ISG report I imagine the rhetoric will quiet down in a few weeks, and in the meantime strategists will be working on feasible courses of action for the way ahead.

Quality of training is part of the equation that indicates the quality of troops, and in this type of fight quality is essential. I still think the Strategic Corporal concept is a bridge too far, but it is still a goal we need to aggressively pursue. Our soldiers and marines must be nuanced in the local culture, so they can determine on the ground without calling higher what the potential second order effects of their anticipated actions will be. Then they can make the risk versus gain call at the tip of the spear where it needs to be made, not at a BDE TOC or higher.