Bias Alarm
When an author states "attacks in Baghdad have dropped ..... but attacks elsewhere show the terrorists can still attack anywhere they want" you should have a clue he's got an axe to grind. Conclusions inconsistent with one's own "statements of fact" are a pretty sure indicator of bias.
Gaining control of Iraq's biggest city as opposed to some backwater is a major step and anyone with a brain bigger than an ant should be able to see that if not wearing wrap around blinders.
Regards,
Mark