Right On The Right

U.S. casualties are down from a year ago, Iraqi casualties are down from a year ago, and it's all because of the surge. Bottom-up political reconciliation is happening all over Iraq, and the good news is being reported because it's THE news out of Iraq. Here's some of the good stuff:

BAGHDAD - At least 29 U.S. troops died while serving in Iraq in February, the third-lowest monthly casualty toll for the U.S. military since the American-led invasion in 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Troop fatalities declined from 40 in January, and also dropped steeply from February 2007, when at least 81 troops died in Iraq.

But Iraqi casualties increased compared with January, although violence was reduced substantially from a year ago.

The AP count revealed at least 739 Iraqi security forces and civilians were either killed or found dead last month, up from 610 in January, which had the lowest monthly death toll since the end of 2005.

In February 2007, at least 1,801 Iraqis were killed.

As things continue to get better in Iraq, we'll find ourselves surrounded by new allies who are grateful for the new security situation. That will help build up confidence in the Iraqi government and security forces, and soon enough, they'll be able to secure the country themselves. This is the Petraeus plan, and it is working.