The stories I watch most closely from Iraq now are the ones that tend to get buried in the newspapers, or ignored altogether.
The New York Times reports online today that U. S. troops killed 32 Iraqis in attacks in the Sadr City area of Baghdad.
As you examine it, the American military reports that all or nearly all those killed were Shia terrorists, so this story Is not not bad news about deaths in Iraq, per se, but good news about terrorists terminated in combat. Other than having such terrorists surrender, I don't know how the news could be better. These are the folks we believe are getting material aid from Iran.
(To be fair, I don't know how prominently the N. Y. Times will run this story in the print edition.)
Meanwhile, Stratfor's subscription-only intelligence briefing reports that the Saudis are preparing to reopen their embassy in Baghdad. This is will help restore confidence in Iraq's future and provide closer means of cooperation in shutting down Al Qaida operatives from Saudi Arabia that have been coming in through Syria.
The U.S., we also learn, is talking with Syria and other of Iraq's neighbors, as well as the Saudis and Iranians. The Iraqis are doing so, too, of course. Of significance, again according to Stratfor, are Iraqi agreements with Turkey to cooperate in curbing the activities of the PKK Kurdish terrorists that roam over the international border and attack Turkish soldiers, police and even civilians. They are not supported by the Iraqis (or the other Kurds), but their mere existence within the Kurdish region of Iraq has stirred the passions of the Turkish military, among others. The Erdogan government in Turkey, backed by the U.S., is eager to stop the PKK provocations.
All of these diplomatic developments are positive accompaniments for the apparently improving military situation.