USAToday: 19,000 Insurgents Killed In Iraq Since ‘03.
More than 19,000 militants have been killed in fighting with coalition forces since the insurgency began more than four years ago, according to military statistics released for the first time.
The statistics show that 4,882 militants were killed in clashes with coalition forces this year, a 25% increase over all of last year.
The increase in enemy deaths this year reflects more aggressive tactics adopted by American forces and an additional 30,000 U.S. troops ordered by the White House this year.
RedStateRascals: “This has been a difficult number to find…Removing 19,000 insurgents–many of whom would love to have struck us here at home–has to help protect America in the global war on terror.”
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From American Thinker: the notorious “Ramadan Spike” in violence has failed to materialize this year.
Few events in Iraq were as predictable as the yearly rise in causalities it signified. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, shortly before and during the autumn months in which Ramadan has recently occurred, violence against US forces escalated significantly.
Not this year.
The missing Ramadan Spike is an immutable sign that Iraq has entered a new phase. What seemed to be an unstoppable cycle of violence has diminished. Ramadan began either on September 12th or 13th of 2007, depending on your source. As of this writing Ramadan is more than halfway over. Not only has the monthly U.S. death toll decreased since August (barring any spectacular attacks or accidents before the end of the month) but within the month the daily death toll appears to have actually slowed down over Ramadan.
Jerusalem Post: US Forces Kill Top al-Qaida Leader in Iraq.
GatewayPundit: Iraq violent death rates plunge.
Update: Shane Clapper has found enough good news coming out of Iraq to fill an entire book.
Update II: Washington Post/CNN journalists explain why good news from Iraq should not be reported. Video at HotAir.