They always try to paint a rosey picture to save face.

We here that because US deaths in Iraq have dropped in the last month, that the surge is "working".

BUT it is harvest time. EVERY modern military ever to face an insurgency from occupied peoples knows that at harvest time, the insurgency has rural people laying down their arms to work in the fields while the urban insurgents continue on in lower numbers. Betray US should know better. But, maybe he really is a moron who achieved his position by kissing political butt, as his CO says is the case. Oh well, wether he is an incompitent leader or an piss poor mis-leader, the troops need better.

Does cutting down opium poppies in Afghanistan mean fewer hands are needed to bring in the harvest? Which would mean more US deaths.