The U.S. and the Taliban are planning talks. The role Pakistan should play, what Afghanistan’s leaders need to do and how the Americans might manage the historic negotiations. A guest post by our man in Pakistan, Ali Chishti.

Carl actually reads! Books, too! What LoD is following.

A study from Vietnam might answer some questions about why East is East and West is West. U.S. Marines in 1972 and Afghan National Army soldiers in 2011 considered today at LoD.

A man of peace, Daniel Serwer, charts how we might end the war in Afghanistan. But what if no one wants to give peace a chance? A discussion of dubious allies and insatiable enemies in the Hindu Kush.

Guest columnist Ali K.Chishti, star Pakistani journalist, takes over Line of Departure to give us his sitrep on the many Taliban, U.S. strategic options in AfPak and what we should be doing, but aren’t.

No, it’s not a spoof by The Onion. Small Wars Journal features an op-ed so giddily optimistic, you’d almost think the author wasn’t in Afghanistan.

I love Michael Y, but he’s championing the wrong story for the wrong reasons. Some points to consider about “progress” and the war in Afghanistan.

Dr Greg never had to beg. You bought his rap because you wanted to believe. The HAM con, explained.

A decent man, a good man, talks about what went wrong in Iraq, what could go right in Afghanistan and how the Pentagon should change some things.

Who is Ali K. Chisti? And why does he love our freedoms? And why doesn’t he get enough sleep?