Dickey--

Things change daily. Your "news" was old before you even posted it. Nobody questions that more responsibility is being turned over to the Iraqis. It does not mean that anything has been accomplished--just that British--or American troops are no longer in charge in a given area. In fact, in the south of Iraq this has to happen--since the UK is winding down its involvement in Bush's tragic Iraq war.

The only time anybody will be able to claim any progress is in the future--at least a year from now--when the "surge" is long over. . Only if the sectarian violence is vastly down THEN, NOT NOW, employment is way up, and the national government is respected, and its writ (look it up)-- runs there, will you or anybody else be able to claim any progress.

And in fact General Petraeus realizes this, even if you don't.--that's why he says it will be at least summer before anybody will know if any success at all can be claimed--or not. That's why he is very guarded in any claims of progress--he knows any "progress" at this point is less than ephemeral (look it up--we'll educate you yet).