While I appreciate finally hearing an upbeat drumbeat coming from Iraq, I note that it is accompanied by far more positivism than hard data.
Ironically, in this stage of the occupation, we need maps of Iraq, Baghdad, and the other major cities, showing where the progress is, where the action is, and importantly, where the action isn’t.
A national incident map showing what is going on is worth far more than overall assessments. To start with, color code the big regions: green, yellow and red. The borders should be yellow at best if there is any traffic across them that brings problems.
Baghdad is a big city, and while there have been city maps showing the sectors of the city, it needs to be subdivided and labeled as well. Pinpoints showing incidents would really help us to see what parts of the city still need to be cooled.
It is long past the time when this was for the most part operational information of use to the enemy. Today it is essential to get the message across to the home front.
Much of the public enjoys the upbeat positivism, so keep it up. But for us data fiends who have been watching Iraq from the beginning with a microscope, we need to see the end game.
Somtimes too much detail in "open source" is a bad thing.