[saquin]

Of course, an overwhelmingly positive article can't be allowed to stand so the Times had to tack on a couple of negative sentences right at the end, just to make sure to end the article on a downbeat note ("Victory to the mujahedeen!). But ignore that last gasp spin and it's a pretty good article.

[wagglebee]

But on the walls, the message was one of defiance. "Death to the Americans!" the slogans said, freshly painted after older ones were spray painted over by Iraqi troops. "Victory to the mujahedeen!"

The New York Slimes writer recognized these as being the same slogans plastered on the walls of his office.

[jolie560]

No matter how much I read, I just have to believe that the insurgents must be "brilliant" to continually out-manuever their enemy almost anywhere in Baghdad they choose.

[neverdem]

This is probably a frontpage story. Did you post it as a frontpage story? Burns is the best and most senior reporter for the Times in Iraq, IIRC.

As for the last paragraph, I wouldn't be surprised if an editor back here added it.

[elhombrelibre]

But Burns has been one of the very few MSM writers to give a fair assessment of the situation in Iraq. This was a pretty upbeat report too.

[Righty_McRight]

6,000 cars and pickup trucks

We gotta have some surplus apc's somewhere that are better than cars and trucks. Other than that it's good to hear the Iraqi's are fighting harder than before.