Far from the Washington murmurs about his future, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson secretly travelled to two of America's enduring war zones, prodding leaders in Afghanistan and Iraq to reach out to longtime rivals.
On Monday, Tillerson flew on a military transport plane from Qatar into Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, where he met President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders.
After returning to Qatar, he departed for Baghdad for talks with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for the second time in as many days.
They discussed healing a Kurdish fight with the central government, accelerating post-Islamic State reconstruction projects for Iraq's liberated towns and cities, and more.
The former Exxon Mobil boss has been on the defensive ever since reports claimed he called President Donald Trump a "moron" after a contentious national security meeting this summer.
Tillerson slipped out of Doha before dawn to travel to Afghanistan.
His primary message: support for a declaration that some Taliban leaders could join Afghanistan's government if they renounce violence and terrorism and commit to stability. He also bluntly warned neighbouring Pakistan to step up action against militant groups that find haven within its borders.
Hours later, Tillerson dealt with different security problems in Iraq.
The Arab country has scored major, US-backed military successes against IS in recent months, but is reeling from its own persistent ethnic and religious divisions.
The most recent: a resurgent Kurdish independence movement in northern Iraq, where a widely criticised independence referendum last month has sparked tensions.
"We did not support the Kurdish independence referendum," Tillerson said at a news conference with Qatar's foreign minister in Doha on Sunday, before visiting Baghdad the next day.
Still, he said the Kurds have legitimate grievances that should be addressed within the framework of a unified Iraq.
He cautioned the war to defeat the IS group is not yet over and that remains the greatest threat to Iraq.
