Regarding my post below this one, liberal commenter DSkerman acidly observes,

“Very nice bar graph, and there are a few more very nice bar graphs on the page you link to. However, I did notice that there isn't a single link to any data the graphs are based on, or a link to any information as to how they acquired and calculated the data. One would hope that you would have the intellectual curiosity to attempt to find that information before accepting a brightly colored bar graph as indicative of anything. But I guess if the graph agrees with the ccnclusions you have already reached then why look deeper.”

I kind of figured that it would be obvious to people familiar with these things that the numbers came from icasualties.org, the definitive site for such nuggets even though it leans so far left it would make Ted Kennedy blanche. I checked to make sure RedState’s numbers squared with the Iraq Casualties site’s. They did.

Since we’re talking about icasualties.org, here’s another chart lifted directly from their site that details the deaths of Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi civilians over particular time periods:

Since DSkerman prowls the internets for data and is open to information that contradicts his narrative, I wonder why he hasn’t shared these figures with us. After all, they do paint a pretty dramatic picture of an improving situation.

As regards my own narrative, I’ll say this: The way I view it, failure is not an option in Iraq. The results of an American defeat at the hands of Al Qaeda (and that’s what a loss in Iraq would be) would be nothing short of ruinous. Whether the Surge was showing results or not, retreat would be the absolute worst option. The price for calming America’s domestic political waters would be unthinkably high.

In other words, I’m thrilled that the Surge is working, but even if it weren’t, surrendering would be a disastrous course. If the Surge weren’t working, the correct policy prescription would be to surge harder, not to give up.

The good news regarding the surge is of course welcome. For most of us, anyway. One can only wonder why DSkerman and his kind seem greet the news with less than open arms.

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