Then, there was this ABC News story from the other day (no link, but this is it in its entirety):

CHARLES GIBSON Some encouraging news from Baghdad tonight. A few weeks ago, the decision was made to redeploy thousands of US troops to the Baghdad area from other areas of Iraq to secure the city and reduce a number of daily attacks. Well, the numbers are preliminary, but it seems to be working. After two weeks, Iraqi authorities say the number of violent attacks has gone down by 30%. ABC’s Terry McCarthy got an exclusive chance to travel with a unit through one of Baghdad’s most dangerous areas. TERRY MCCARTHY Space-aged vehicles in Baghdad’s side streets. These Stryker armored troop carriers moved in 2 weeks ago with 5,000 extra US troops to patrol the Iraqi capital. LIEUTENANT PATRICK PATTERSON It’s new. People don’t know what to expect. TERRY MCCARTHY By saturating some of the most dangerous neighborhoods, they have reduced violence across Baghdad by almost a third. US figures, calculated differently, show a 22% drop. Either way, the Americans are fired up. LIEUTENANT PATRICK PATTERSON It’s been great. We get a lot of smiles and waves. TERRY MCCARTHY One of the most dramatic drops in violence has happened in the Dora neighborhood. In July, up to 20 people here were killed here every day. Then US and Iraqi troops poured in, searching 4,000 buildings in the first 4 days. Their commander, Colonel Michael Beech, was also determined to stop car bombs. COLONEL MICHAEL BEECH We established entry control points where we inspect, even now, every single vehicle in and out. TERRY MCCARTHY Over 14 days of the stepped-up patrols in Dora, there has been just one killing. We’re on Mechanic Street in Dora, in Southern Baghdad. A month ago this was one of the most dangerous places in the city. All these stores would have been closed. But since the extra American troops have moved back in, people feel it’s now safe to do business here. ‘I’m happy because we’re safe,” he says. ‘The stores are open and we can move around freely.” But US commanders told us the additional American fire power can only be a temporary solution. COLONEL MICHAEL BEECH It has to be the Iraqi people with the Iraqi security forces that ultimately bring success and security to Baghdad. TERRY MCCARTHY Hope has often gone sour in Iraq. If the country’s political leaders cannot make their own peace, America’s later success in Baghdad could quickly be reversed. Terry McCarthy, ABC News, Baghdad.