The new intelligence report which has the MSM huffing and puffing isn’t all that negative, and perhaps even more positive than negative. The main point made is that the surge is working, the Iraq troops are coming along performing adequately.

It’s not so glowing on Maliki, but then everyone knows that the politcal situation is going to take a lot longer to get settled. As I said this morning, 231 years and even WE still don’t have our act totally together politically (Reid and Pelosi – cased closed). Rich Lowry covers the key parts here.

Again, the there is significant progress and more to be made and the report simply supports the need to stay on in the fight. Nevertheless you can expect the onslaught from the media and the democrats to continue in the lead up to General Patraeus’s report. They know that the military objectives of the surge are being met, yet out of frustration as loosing ground in the “cut and run” debate, they’re simply moving the goal posts of what will considered progress.

UPDATE: Paul at Wizbang brings up a good point that even yours truly missed.

“As a civilian a few thousand miles away having only the mainstream media to count on for information, it’s almost impossible to make an informed decision on the job performance of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

But I have a few clues he must be doing a good job…

The New York Times hates him Democratic Senator Carl Levin and Republican Senator John Warner have called for his ouster. Hilliary says she wants him gone and the NYT has another hit piece on him this morning.

So we have every reason to believe he must be a doing a great job.”

You know, he’s right.