As we’re told over and over how the surge is working and Iraqi and U.S. deaths are down, which is great, let’s look at some facts. 2007 has been the deadliest year for our troops. 11 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq already this month, with 5 of the deaths occuring yesterday. 34 journalists have been killed in Iraq this year. Nearly 2.3 million Iraqis have been driven from their homes and are trapped in Iraq. And is the reason for the drop in deaths because of the massive ethnic cleansing that has occured?

Other Iraq news:

U.S. Special Forces are the undetectable side of the war in Iraq, but is being used more and more in the fight against Sunni and Shiite militants. Iraqis complain some units often use excessive force, killing innocent people. Regular U.S. military units are often uncomfortable with their methods.

Al Maliki did a walkabout yesterday in Central Baghdad to show how improved the situation is in central Baghdad. Of course, he was surrounded by body guards and the area was closed off during the walkabout.

Remember the Iranian businessmen the U.S. kidnapped and detained in Iraq? Well, it appears they are to be released. This comes as Iran opens two consulates in northern Iraq.

More than a year after the Parsons Corp. promised congress they would fix the disastrous problems at the Iraqi Police academy, it remains largely unusable.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said late on Monday that a military operation was still planned against Kurdish guerrillas based in northern Iraq.

An Idaho Dad is on his way to Iraq to see his son, Sergeant Evan Vela, who is being held for murdering an Iraqi. According to the family and Sgt. Vela, he was just following orders, when told to shoot the man. This makes me sick. Just like Abu Ghraib, we prosecute the little guys (who probably ARE following orders) and let the true criminals go.

The tear jerker of the day: All three young children of a wounded Iraq veteran and his wife have died following a car accident that happened on their way to visit their father, Army Spc. John Austin Johnson, in a hospital.