This is insightful, but the author makes too many generalizations that I'm not comfortable with reading in a news story. For example: I find it intuitively true that American perception of the war has changed because of how it is covered by the mainstream media, but I don't find that claim well supported here. This does more to reinforce the anti-war viewpoint than inform.

This news analysis maintains that while Iraq remains the most dangerous country on earth, violence and American deaths are down because Shias have largley subjugated Sunnis and Iran has brokered intra Shia peace. It goes on to repeat Gen. Petraeus' oft stated view that the gains are fragile and in danger of being reversed. While all of this has the ring of truth based on what I have read elsewhere, this analysis is essentially sourceless, leaving it, standing on its own, highly suspect.

As usual to find out what’s really going on in the world, one circumvents the neocon propaganda machine–known collectively as the American news media–and turns to the foreign media. In this informative news analysis, credit for the reduction in Iraqian violence is due more to the actions of Iraq and Iran than to Bush’s surge. The difference between assessments of the war between McCain and Petraeus is not only astonishing, it’s also scary. The article has several criticisms for McCain: "If McCain supposes the US has won a military victory, and as president acts as if this were true, then he is laying the groundwork for a new war."

Cockburn deflates a number of myths. His sources and data are not as evident as would be best.

Quick read, and exellent too. I agree with the reporter that the "surge" is given credit for results caused by other means. In particular, the Sunni came to realize they cannot recapture control of the central government and will have to make various deals with Shiite leaders. I also agree with Cockburn that a McCain victory could easily lead to catastrophe in the Middle East. In my view, the "surge" has squandered hundreds of billions of dollars and in effect prevented the engagement of the US with Iran and Syria that would have allowed the US to withdraw entirely from Iraq (as sought by the people of Iraq).

Things are tough for socialists and the hate America crowd. America keeps winning and succeeding. It's so unfair.