A Hill friend reflects:

Casualties continue to decline. There have been 14 U.S. casualties in the first 20 days of December. The lowest casualties in a month was 20, way back in February 2004.
At a rate of about .75 deaths per day, the casualty rate for U.S. troops is now at it lowest rate ever. With the celebration of Eid underway, there is a potential for a few days of calm for the holiday, or of increased violence as a result of so many people gathering at mosques and celebrations creating a target for terrorists.
Our guys over there really don’t get enough credit. They’ve done a truly remarkable thing.