On the other statement that had me a bit wary – Thompson’s comment that car bombs were down 80 percent – Campaign Spot reader Brian writes in, pointing to this Oct. 24 briefing by Lt Gen Odierno

“All sectors in Baghdad have witnessed a decrease in terrorist activities and [unintelligible] before the carrying out of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon. This has brought life to normal in many parts of Baghdad. The statistics and numbers which are being presented to you have been established according to scientific methods in cooperation with the Multi-National Forces. And we can sum up these results as follows. First, the terrorist operations have decreased by 59%. Second, the terrorist operations have decreased against innocent Iraqi people by 59% also. A decrease in operations against Iraqi security forces by 62%. A decrease in the assassination attempts for sectarian reasons by 72%. Fifth, a decrease in car bombs by 65%. Sixth, a decrease in the fatalities in the civilians killed by car bombs by 81%, including IEDs. Seven, a decrease in human casualties of civilians resulting from car bombs and IEDs by 80%.”

Brian asks, “Does this advance my man to 3rd base?” Well, I’ll say the pitcher (me) balked him that extra base, although in a perfect world, Thompson would have said he was citing U.S. military or Multi-National Corps-Iraq statistics.