From Thom Shanker, New York Times:  As other troops are withdrawn, Special Operations forces are expected to make up almost one-third of the American military presence in Afghanistan by next February.

From Andres Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  For eleven years, the International Security Assistance Force has carried out its responsibilities.

From Michael Hirsh, Atlantic:  Senior commanders with the American-led International Security Assistance Force, which consists of 28 NATO countries and 22 other participating nations, say that substantial aid and military support is going to be necessary well after the scheduled withdrawal at the end of 2014.

From Richard Gowan, World Politics Review :  Britain, traditionally obsessive about the Atlantic alliance, has responded to the messages coming from the U.S. by deepening defense cooperation with France.

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Admiral, Jim [Stavridis], you are the first naval officer to have served as NATO commander in Europe. But you have navigated these uncharted waters with great skill.

From Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs:  Our relations with Russia, like yours, are pragmatic but brittle.

From James Stavridis, Atlantic:  In Afghanistan, unlike Syria -- where I'm pessimistic about outcomes -- I'm cautiously optimistic about outcomes.

From Postimees:  In addition to Estonian troops, around 350 land force personnel from Belgium, Britain, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as about 100 Polish airmen will take part in this year's edition of Spring Storm, the largest annual exercise of the Estonian defense forces.