Surge Update

The surge that Democrats guaranteed wouldn't work continues to show more and more improvement.

In Kem, Iraq, Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers "buddy up" to pull security. According to 1st Cav Captain Hequembourg, the villagers are getting friendlier and "the Iraqi Army is getting better every day."

Bill Roggio reports that there are still approximately 2000 al Qaeda members in the Diyala province. General Petraeus sent 700 soldiers and 100 Strykers to combat the enemy, resulting in dozens of al Qaeda deaths.

For being one month into a long surge, we're not doing bad at all. The MNF-I commander has confidence. Sheiks formerly calling on their followers to fight the Americans are now encouraging their young men to join the Iraqi Army and police.

General Petraeus: "Less than half the al Qaeda leaders who were in Baghdad when this [surge] began are still in the city."

Not to be forgotten, quelling violence by Cav and 82nd force presence is one of the many ways leadership has designed to stop an insurgency. Infrastructure projects that benefit the normal Iraqi people are increasing. A hospital that couldn't be built because of al Qaeda control of the area has now resumed. (I wonder who in JCC-I/A cut the contract for that.)

In broader news, 70 percent of Iraqis polled approve of the new constitution, want Iraq to remain a unified country, and describe their life as "good." 69 percent expect the country to improve over the next year. And a hat tip to a free market: average household incomes have jumped by 60 percent in less than two years, 70 percent of of Iraqis say their enonomic situation is positive, and the use of cell phones, satellite dishes, and household appliances has increased by at least 58 percent. More numbers here.

And don't forget about our boys fighting the Talibanians in Afghanistan.