Iraq: A Gloomy (but balanced) Assessment

This piece from the Guardian (U.K.) is about the most balanced and realistic asessment of Iraq that I have read. The "Surge" is working in the short-term, in the long term one cannot walk the streets of any major city and feel safe. Until this happens there can be no real rebuilding, and until there is real rebuilding, there is no long-term hope. Oh...and for the sham McCain visit and "stroll" through the "pacified" streets of Iraq, check out this article.