When asked whether they believe "things will be better" in the future, the percentage of Iraqis responding positively has dropped fairly consistently over the past year — whether they were asked to look ahead six months, one year or five years — according to polling data cited in the report.

"The security situation is currently at its most complex state since the initiation of Operation Iraq Freedom," the report said, using the U.S. military's name for the war that was launched in March 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein."

"Breaking the cycle of violence is the most pressing goal of coalition and Iraqi operations," it said." (That's easy for the Pentagon to say, apparently. Who invaded whom?)

Arf