It means Obama was elected and the terrorists know Obama will cut and run like a pussy!

MataH: If you look at the full size version of the first chart at the PDF (page 28):

http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/Master_16_June_08_%20FINAL_SIGNED%20.pdf

You get a breakdown by the various attack methods. IED’s have declined in a proportional measure to every other form of attack.

And for those who suggest that we can leave now, it’s clear from the report that Iraq’s security forces have only recently reached a minimum level in the two most basic categories (police and infantry type units). Look at PDF page 63 to see what more needs to be done before they are ready to stand on their own. The chart from that page is reproduced here:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j191/mikesamerica/mikesamerica2/untitledfd.jpg

The bottom line is that the plan for Iraq is working but these gains could be lost if we withdrew our support too soon.

The security environment in Iraq continues to improve, with all major violence indicators reduced between 40 to 80% from pre-surge levels. Total security incidents have fallen to their lowest level in over four years. Coalition and Iraqi forces’ operations against al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) have degraded its ability to attack and terrorize the population. Although AQI remains a major threat and is still capable of high-profile attacks, the lack of violence linked to AQI in recent weeks demonstrates the effect these operations have had on its network.

Equally important, the government’s success in Basrah and Baghdad’s Sadr City against militias, particularly Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) and the Iranian-supported Special Groups, has reinforced a greater public rejection of militias. This rejection, while still developing, is potentially as significant for Iraq as the Sunni rejection of AQI’s indiscriminate violence and extremist ideology. Overall, the communal struggle for power and resources is becoming less violent. Many Iraqis are now settling their differences through debate and the political process rather than open conflict. Other factors that have contributed to a reduction in violence include the revitalization of sectors of the Iraqi economy and local reconciliation measures.

When looking at the HPA xplos was the dominance of car bombs, two thoughts came to mind…

1: are IED’s included anywhere in the stats? (haven’t read the report yet… sorry)
2: looking at dominating car bombs…. if they were governed by our DNC, cars would probably get outlawed, or require federal background checks prior to purchasing. LOL

So the violence being down means what?

The decrease in violence means that the surge worked and we are getting closer and closer to the point where our work is complete.

Are the soldiers coming home then?

Salvage, if you had been paying attention to something other than the video games that you immerse yourself in you would know that thousands of troops have already come home and thousands more are scheduled to return shortly.

If the violence goes back up to its peak in the next six months what would that mean?

The violence will not go back up to its peak because 1) we have killed or taken custody of the enemy fighters 2) the Iraqi security forces have now ramped up and are now more able to provide their own security and law enforcement 3) the Iraqi gov’t has progressed on a variety of fronts and is now more effective at doing the job that gov’ts are supposed to do.

Is our work done? No, not yet.

Is it time for everyone to come home? No, not yet, but we are getting closer to that point.

If the violence goes back up to its peak in the next six months what would that mean?