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The history of Iraq and the United States has been linked for better or worse with America's removal of Saddam Hussein, and the placement of the country towards some form of multi-faction representative government. This is why books on the World War I intervention of British forces in what would become Iraq draw much interest among current military historical readers.

Getting bin Laden: What Happened that Night in Abbottabad by Nicholas Schmidle, The New Yorker. BLUF: "... Obama and his advisers went into a second room, down the hall, where others involved in the raid—including logisticians, crew chiefs, and SEAL alternates—had assembled. Obama presented the team with a Presidential Unit Citation and said, "Our intelligence professionals did some amazing work. I had fifty-fifty confidence that bin Laden was there, but I had one-hundred-per-cent confidence in you guys. You are, literally, the finest small-fighting force that has ever existed in the world." The raiding team then presented the President with an American flag that had been on board the rescue Chinook. Measuring three feet by five, the flag had been stretched, ironed, and framed. The SEALs and the pilots had signed it on the back; an inscription on the front read, "From the Joint Task Force Operation Neptune's Spear, 01 May 2011: 'For God and country. Geronimo.' ""

Editor's Note: While the cost is $20, this read is well worth the price. Safa and Emma attempt to deconstruct the American narrative about the invasion and subsequent "Surge" by providing the Iraqi perspective on the overall cost and impact of the intervention.

BLUF: "State vs. Defense, the century-old competition between those who would confront America's overseas challenges through diplomatic means and those who would subdue them by force of arms, is all but decided. The economic and political resources commanded by the latter group are vast and powerful, while the former has been reduced to a cadre of supplicants forced to beg before the lavish table of the national security state. Such a lopsided state of affairs has been abetted by a citizenry generally uninterested in the policies carried out in its name and un—to share in the burden of their prosecution. Only now, with the specter of bankruptcy looming over the national accounts, are some in Washington daring to contest the bill for, if not the value of, unchecked global hegemony."

Wanted Dead or Alive: Manhunts From Geronimo to bin Laden at Amazon.com. Be looking for a SWJ interview with the author in the near future.

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing "The Way Ahead in Afghanistan" featuring witnesses General John Keane USA (ret.), Lt General David W. Barno USA (ret.) and The Honorable Francis J. "Bing" West appearing before the committee for a hearing on "The Way Ahead in Afghanistan".

The Way Ahead in Afghanistan - Statement by The Honorable Francis J. "Bing" West

Update: More good news at The New York Post - Afghan Book by Rolling Stone's Hastings Goes MIA by Keith Kelly. BLUF: "Little, Brown has apparently canceled a much-anticipated book about the war in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings, based on 'The Runaway General', last summer's explosive Rolling Stone article on Gen. Stanley McChrystal."

Update 2: Overview at Politico - William Caldwell, 'Psy-Ops' General, Cleared by Pentagon Report by Elias Groll.

Update 3: An Open Letter to Rolling Stone by Carl Prine at Line of Departure. BLUF: "Dear Rolling Stone, The time has come for you to do the right thing. Retract 'Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators,' a bit of fable haplessly ginned up by your star reporter Michael Hastings in late February."

The United States accused Iran of having a "secret deal" with al-Qaida as Washington announced sanctions Thursday on six suspected al-Qaida operatives.

The Treasury Department did not offer many details. But it says the operatives are part of a network headed by Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil, described by U.S. officials as an al-Qaida facilitator based in Iran.

The Treasury statement says Khalil has been operating under an "agreement" between the Iranian government and the terror group.

The department says Iran is a "critical transit point" for funding to support al-Qaida's activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There was no immediate reaction from the Iranian government.

But Treasury Under Secretary David Cohen says a "secret deal" in which Iran allows al-Qaida to funnel resources through its territory has been exposed. He says the case illuminates what he called another aspect of Tehran's "unmatched support for terrorism."

The sanctions on Khalil and the five other reputed operatives freeze any U.S. assets that they may have and prohibit U.S. citizens from engaging in financial transactions with them.

Nothing follows.

4th and Long: The Role of Civil Affairs in VSO by Captain Neiman C. Young. When the Soldiers of Company A, 91st Civil Affairs Battalion, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, they learned to adapt their activities to contribute to village stability operations.

The Nuts and Bolts of Village Stability Operations by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen N. Rust. An overview of the principles and challenges of village stability operations.

Taking a Stand: VSO and the Afghan Local Police by Lieutenant Colonel Basicl Catanzaro and Major Kirk Windmueller. Through village stability operations, members of U.S. SOF team with Afghan police to achieve security and stability and pave the way for political and economic improvements.

The Green Beret Volckmann Program by Colonel Eric P. Wendt. The author proposes a strategy for countering multiregional insurgencies by employing culturally astute SF Soldiers who would serve repetitive rotations to a specific country.

Regimental Training Facility Brings Unique SOF Resources Together by Major David S. Clukey. A dedicated site at Fort Bliss, Texas, provides realistic pre-mission training for members of special-operations task forces.

Clinton Blasts Bill Restricting Foreign Aid by Mary Beth Sheridan. BLUF: "The bill 'would be debilitating to my efforts to carry out a considered foreign policy and diplomacy, and to use foreign assistance strategically to that end,' Clinton wrote Tuesday to members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee."

Secretary Clinton is spot on here. The bill is a knee-jerk reaction to perceived slights by some so called allies compounded by pressures brought on by the debt ceiling debate and deadline. Okay, you don't want another Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etal? Then you invest an ounce of prevention to avoid a pound of cure (DOS, USAID, USIP, more...). Why can't we get this, after so many years and so many needless adventures that cost us dearly in terms of national treasure?

by Brad Brasseur

For years, instability and militancy in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have threatened not only Pakistan's internal security, but also stability in Afghanistan. The situation in Pakistan's tribal territories has become a growing concern, with coalition troop withdrawal approaching and transition of security to Afghan forces slowly gaining momentum. Current Pakistani military efforts to combat militancy in the FATA have been very weak, as indicated in early June in South Waziristan, where 150 militants seemingly effortlessly attacked a Pakistani security check post.

Brad L. Brasseur works at EastWest Institute in Brussels where his work is solely focused on Afghanistan-Pakistan. Brad has a Masters degree in International Political Economics from the University Of Kent, where he focused all his studies on Afghanistan. Prior to joining EWI Brussels, Brad travelled to 65 different countries across six continents.