To say that the sole factor of reduced violence rests entirely on the increased number of troops on the ground does not paint the entire picture.

Violence has been reduced by other strategies incorporated in "the surge" as well. One of these strategies is to stop breaking down families doors in the middle of the night (i.e. treat Arabs as humans). Another factor has been to transfer American taxpayers dollars directly to the former "Al Qaeda terrorists" to buy their loyalty instead of using the taxpayers dollars to combat them in the street (which may be a better strategy but be aware of how your dollar is being used, whatever happend to the Republican "we don't negotiate with terrorists"?)...

To say that the sole factor of reduced violence rests entirely on the increased number of troops on the ground does not paint the entire picture.

Violence has been reduced by other strategies incorporated in "the surge" as well. One of these strategies is to stop breaking down families doors in the middle of the night (i.e. treat Arabs as humans). Another factor has been to transfer American taxpayers dollars directly to the former "Al Qaeda terrorists" to buy their loyalty instead of using the taxpayers dollars to combat them in the street (which may be a better strategy but be aware of how your dollar is being used, whatever happend to the Republican "we don't negotiate with terrorists"?).

Listed in the report, on page 5, is yet another factor (which n2 will never address) the separation of Iraq’s previously mixed sectarian communities into homogeneous neighborhoods (is this a shining example of democracy?)

Also keep in mind that this is a report provided by the Department of Defense. One should always view any statistics, data, and reports from the DOD with a healthy dose of skepticism.

The report will never show what the U.S. could have accomplished with the 2 trillion dollars spent, 3,800 dead, and 50,000 wounded soldiers in a different course of action.