Changes

Meanwhile, <b>U.S. forces handed over responsibility for security in Iraq's three northern provinces to the Kurdish regional government. Seven Iraqi provinces, including Najaf, Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan, now have responsibility for their own security – a third of the total. The United States hopes to add more as Iraqi forces grow in capability.</b> <ref> http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=74626 </ref>

Meanwhile, <b>U.S. forces handed over responsibility for security in Iraq's three northern provinces to the Kurdish regional government. Seven Iraqi provinces, including Najaf, Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan, now have responsibility for their own security – a third of the total. The United States hopes to add more as Iraqi forces grow in capability.</b> <ref> http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=74626 </ref>

March 2008 - <b>62% of Iraqis now say they want the US troops to stay in their country..  and a full 55% say their lives are going well. </b>

March 2008 - <i><b>62% of Iraqis now say they want the US troops to stay in their country..  and a full 55% say their lives are going well. </b></i>

Marking the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, ABC's anchor Charles Gibson on World News Monday March 18, 2008 explained <b>“we have polled inside Iraq and there is some good news.” Specifically, “today, 55 percent of Iraqi say their lives are going well. Last summer that number was 39 percent.” </b> From Iraq, Terry McCarthy reported, "As our poll takers spread across the country they found that <b>for the first time in three years, people were more worried about economic and social problems than violence. And almost half think their country will be better off in a year -- double the number six months ago. In Dora, in southern Baghdad, we found these kids playing on the street. A year ago, they would haven't dared to come outside....</b> McCarthy also noted in a telling reality check, <b>only 38 percent want U.S. troops to leave now, afraid that the gains in security might be reversed.”</b> This obviously means that 62 percent of the Iraqis polled want US troops to stay in their country for the good of the Iraqis. “Even Fallujah has turned around,” McCarthy learned, “as <b>the local population has largely abandoned the insurgency</b> and now they're focusing on rebuilding the city from the ruins of war,” though tough tasks remain with most complaining about electrical shortages and poor health care services. <ref> http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2008/03/18/abc-finds-optimistic-iraqis-kids-playing-safely-street </ref>

Marking the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, ABC's anchor Charles Gibson on World News Monday March 18, 2008 explained <b>“we have polled inside Iraq and there is some good news.” Specifically, “today, 55 percent of Iraqi say their lives are going well. Last summer that number was 39 percent.” </b> From Iraq, Terry McCarthy reported, "As our poll takers spread across the country they found that <b>for the first time in three years, people were more worried about economic and social problems than violence. And almost half think their country will be better off in a year -- double the number six months ago. In Dora, in southern Baghdad, we found these kids playing on the street. A year ago, they would haven't dared to come outside....</b> McCarthy also noted in a telling reality check, <b>only 38 percent want U.S. troops to leave now, afraid that the gains in security might be reversed.”</b> This obviously means that 62 percent of the Iraqis polled want US troops to stay in their country until they are certain the gains in security and stability will not be reversed. “Even Fallujah has turned around,” McCarthy learned, “as <b>the local population has largely abandoned the insurgency</b> and now they're focusing on rebuilding the city from the ruins of war,” though tough tasks remain with most complaining about electrical shortages and poor health care services. <ref> http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2008/03/18/abc-finds-optimistic-iraqis-kids-playing-safely-street </ref>

==Results of the Surge on casualties and terrorist attacks==

==Results of the Surge on casualties and terrorist attacks==