This brief Time magazine article is as good a summation as any of the current situation in Iraq and how the US feels about it. Essentially, the surge has made military progress—something that an increasing number of Democrats are prepared to recognise—but the Maliki government has yet to take advantage of this window of opportunity, much to the frustration of the Bush administration.
Overall, the situation in Iraq is more hopeful than it was before the surge started but the Iraqis need to start making political progress soon if this momentum is not to be squandered.

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