Has there been political reconcilliation, whereby a majority of the factions have decided to get along?

Has there been an accommodation for religious differences, with Sunni and Shia agreeing to live peacefully if a bit separately?

Have most of the insurgents been killed, maimed or persuaded their cause is no longer worth dying for? Because of the progress noted above?

Are we admitting that this shows Iran has stopped whatever fomenting of violence they may have been doing?

Or is there a lull because the other side has stood down for a while, with the capacity to step up the violence at will, their will?

Are we confusing a diminishing of violence with political progress?

Can Americans walk down the streets of Baghdad safely, stopping at whatever shops they would like, no armed guards, no armor?

Is there still a "Green Zone"?

Arf