One of the most common "drive-by media" techniques is to spring something that's been around for a long time and pretend like it's a news flash, like the NIE that was written in April, yet somehow only became news just before an election.

Charts in the Brookings Iraq Report always shows a number of attacks in these ranges. Not successful attacks, just attacks. Here's the footnote:

36 Alexandra Zavis, “Iraqi Insurgents Unleash Deadly Bombings, Attacks Despite U.S. Offensive,” Associated Press, May 11, 2005. Paul Garwood, “Surge in U.S. Troop Deaths Raises Concerns That Insurgents Retargeting,” Associated Press, May 24, 2005. Carol Williams, “ Soldiers Get Extra Layer of Defense; Humvee crews are still not out of danger, but new protective plating provides a little more security on the hostile roadways of Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, July 29, 2005. Richard Oppel Jr., Eric Schmitt, and Thom Shanker, “Baghdad Bombings Raise New Questions About US Strategy in Iraq,” New York Times, September 17, 2005. 65 to 75 attacks per day. Bradley Graham, “Zarqawi ‘Hijacked’ Insurgency; US General Says Foreign Fighters Now Seen as Main Threat,” Washington Post, September 28, 2005. 90 attacks per day. Edward Wong and Dexter Filkins, “Baghdad Quite As Vote Begins on Constitution,” New York Times, October 15, 2005. 723 attacks in first week of October. November number is author’s estimate based on Wolf Blitzer interview of US Ambassador in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, , “Insurgents Waging Propaganda War in Iraq; Four Christian Activists Being Held Hostage in Iraq; Fraud Scheme; Schwartzenegger Mulls Clemency for Williams; Australian to be Hanged in Singapore; The US is Attempting to Free Hostages in Iraq; Scaffolding Slams into Building,” CNN, The Situation Room December 1, 2005. Richard Oppel Jr., “Monitor Group Says Team Will Review Voting Results,” New York Times, December 30, 2005. January through April 2006 numbers are author’s estimates. May 2006 estimate based on Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq May 2006, Report to Congress in Accordance with the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2006 (Section 9010), p. 32-34. June–July 2006 number is author’s estimate.

Not exactly a scoop by Woodward. Wouldn't hurt to pry yourself loose from MSNBC once in a while and check the DoD sites, where weekly attack numbers in the 500-600 range are routine.

Oh, and I see that Woodward has gotten back in the good graces of the Left again, now that he's telling them something they want to hear. Back when he was declaring the Plame affair to be a lot of gas over nothing, he was in the doghouse.