The truth about the wars. Daniel Bolger reflects on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and considers why both failed.

Does the U.S. need to lead the world? Iraq war veteran Scott Beauchamp talks with Barry Posen about U.S. hegemony and the value of a foreign policy of restraint.

The Iranian nuclear deal and human rights. Azadeh Moaveni talks to Iranian dissidents and finds that many of them fear a new wave of repression if the nuclear talks break down.

When Reagan apologized to Thatcher. Ishaan Tharoor reports on the discovery of an audio recording of Reagan’s apology to Margaret Thatcher following the invasion of Grenada.

Island of pain. Taylor Dibbert reviews Rohini Mohan’s The Seasons of Trouble: Life Amid the Ruins of Sri Lanka’s Civil War.

The U.S.-China climate deal. Zachary Keck questions whether China committed to anything new in the much-touted agreement reached at the recent APEC summit.

The sterilization deaths in India. Rishi Iyengar reports on the deaths of a dozen women from complications related to sterilization surgery. Here is a photo gallery from a botched population control program in Chhattisgarh.

Obama’s strange journey through Naypyidaw. David Nakamura and Ishaan Tharoor report on the president’s tour of the capital of Myanmar.

The comet probe runs into difficulties. Gautam Naik and Robert Wall report on the initial problems encountered by the Philae probe on the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet.

Countries without militaries. Kathy Gilsinan investigates why about two dozen states around the world have no standing army.