Here are some of the recommendations from NRDC and the Garrison Institute.

Therefore, with the same resources, give or take a few soldiers, we can also plan for and decide on the increase of troop numbers in Afghanistan.

As for Afghanistan, the US has more troops deployed there than at any time since the initial 2001 invasion.

The head of the newly formed U.S. Cyber Command, Gen. Keith Alexander, argued that blocking the magazine was a legitimate counterterrorism target and would help protect U.S. troops overseas.

Meanwhile, he will also need to re-sell the Afghanistan campaign to a weary electorate: the West' s chances of prevailing depend on having more troops there, not fewer.