There's a continued renaissance of peace and security in Anbar province.
The latest National Intelligence Estimate (some details here) while containing some negative news, also contains some good news. Quote: "The NIE states the security situation in Iraq is improving as operations “measurable but uneven improvements” since the last NIE on Iraq in January 2007. “Overall attack levels across Iraq have fallen during seven of the last nine weeks. Coalition forces, working with Iraqi forces, tribal elements, and some Sunni insurgents, have reduced al Qaeda in Iraq’s (AQI) capabilities, restricted its freedom of movement, and denied it grassroots support in some areas.”
Operation Lightning Hammer in Iraq's Diyala River Valley has come to a close, and found some significant success. Quote: "Twenty -six al Qaeda operatives were killed and 37 detained during the operation. Ten weapons caches, six car bombs and 22 roadside bombs were found and destroyed. US and Iraqi forces also gathered significant intelligence on al Qaeda's operations and network in the region. "An al-Qaeda command post was discovered in the village of Shadia, and an al-Qaeda medical clinic was located in Qaryat Sunayjiyah," Multinational Forces Iraq stated in a press release. "The command post, which was surrounded by fighting positions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests, records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, a list of al-Qaeda members detained by Coalition Forces and other terrorist propaganda." The joint security operation cleared 50 villages. A permanent combat outpost has been established in the village of Mukeisha, "in the heart of the river valley area." Iraqi and Coalition forces followed the combat operations with humanitarian and medical assistance. "
The electricity situation in Iraq continues to improve. Note especially: "“The demand (for electricity) has increased more than 70 percent since 2004 because the people of Iraq are purchasing more energy intensive products like air conditioners, refrigerators, computers and other electronic devices, and that is good,” Walsh said."
