[WOSG]

For the people of Baghdad, death took something of a holiday this week. By Thursday, U.S. and Iraqi military commanders were staring at murder rates that had fallen by half since Monday. On Thursday, Baghdad logged only one man killed by one bomb, the government said. It made for marveling. "Quietest day in months," said Brig. Abdul-Karim, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. "Still quiet," Khalaf said Friday.

The "Holy Month of Ramadan" must be over, they stop killing as the religious fervor recedes. (How do I mark a comment "sarcastic but weirdly truthful"?)

[jmc1969]

More like the terrorists are blowing their wad in Western Iraq trying to kill Americans before the election. And, the Madhi Army is busy fighting with the Badr.

The terrorists have an ability to surge attacks, but they wear themselves out after several weeks and it takes time to rearm, regroup, and plan the next surge.