“We’ve needed to go out with imperfect intelligence and imperfect conditions to have any chance of saving American lives. And that means there’s that much more risk of failing.” The LA Times on hostage killings and the new reality of rescue missions.

+ The Independent: The first Western journalist ever to be given access to the Islamic State has just returned — and this is what he discovered.

+ Pakistan is set to execute 500 terror convicts in the coming weeks.

+ Photos: Hundreds of Pakistani Santas marched in defiance of the Taliban.