MATTIS ON A MISSION: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has touched down in Germany, one of America’s most important NATO allies, where he will be consulting with his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen, and preparing for talks later in the week with NATO defense ministers about his soon-to-be completed strategy for winning in Afghanistan. En route Mattis spoke for 25 minutes with reporters on his plane, including your intrepid Daily of Defense correspondent, and laid out how he sees the final plan coming together.

AFGHANISTAN: Mattis will be in Brussels Thursday finding out what the other NATO nations are willing to bring to the fight. Meanwhile, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford is in Afghanistan making sure the government of Ashraf Ghani is on board. Mattis, who has been given authority by President Trump to set force levels in Afghanistan (as long as they are consistent with the new strategy), said he does not yet have a specific number in mind for additional troops, from either the United States or the other NATO nations. And a lot may depend on what the allies are willing to contribute.