HOW ARE THINGS GOING IN IRAQ? The Opinionated Bastard, who you may recall had the troop-rotation schedule nailed before it was a big media issue, has looked at the latest numbers from Brookings and has an analysis. And here’s another one from Security Watchtower. Both contain more analysis — and actual data — than you’re likely to see in most press reports.

UPDATE: Hmm. Reportedly, Americans are now more confident in how things are going than they’ve been all year. Guess the whole “pushback” business has done some good, though the numbers aren’t so great that the Bush Administration should let up.