Simple Proof

Republicans are routinely going around the cable B.S. Fests and complaining that Democrats won't give Bush credit for "improvement" in Iraq. Michael Kinsley answers this criticism with a very simple response that is a test for success:

Michael Kinsley writes in his Washington Post opinion column: "The test is simple, and built into the concept of a surge: Has it allowed us to reduce troop levels to below where they were when it started? And the answer is no.

End of discussion.

Not only are we not bringing people home, we are net 20,000 soldiers up from the pre-escalation levels. Meanwhile, Lord Petraeus's current strategy is the "pause" the withdrawal lest things spiral out o' control again. Frankly, I don't even think the extra troops are doing much of anything. We can thank Muqtada al Sadr for the decrease in American deaths. And we all know how dependable Sadr will be in the long run.

Meanwhile, here's Juan Cole's headline for his blog today (much like everyday):

60 Dead in Attack on Shiite Pilgrims;
Turkish invaders Kill 33 PKK Guerrillas;
2 US Soldiers Killed;
Stewart Skewers McCain