NO TIMELINE OR END DATE: In his Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, the Army general nominated to command the U.S. and NATO missions in Afghanistan barely mentioned the linchpin of the Trump administration’s new strategy, namely the idea the Taliban can be forced to negotiate an end to a war that’s almost 17 years old by steadily increasing military pressure. The Trump strategy announced last August hinges on the concept of convincing the Taliban they can’t win, and thereby compelling them to accept a political settlement.

The most Lt. Gen. Austin Miller would say on that front was that winning would ultimately include “a political reconciliation, realignment,” without explaining how or when that might come about. “I can’t guarantee you a timeline or an end date,” Miller said.