Well, we have now completed four, full months since the June 28 handover of sovereignty. And that's sufficient period time to take a glance at the American fatalities rates before and after the handover.
Using July 1 as the cutoff, and courtesy as always of Lunaville's incomparable site, there have been a combined total of 265 American fatalities in the 123 days of July, August, September and now October. That's an average fatality rate of 2.15 Americans per day.
By contrast, in the entire 469 days from March 19, 2003, through June 30, 2004 -- which thus includes the "war" phase and the "occupation" phase -- there were a total of 858 American fatalities, or 1.83 fatalities per day.
(Note to major media: Do not, under any circumstances, discuss or report this data. Return to your present slumberama.)
Remember, the fatality and casualty rates are higher in 2004 than 2003; higher since Hussein's capture than before; higher since "sovereignty" was turned over on June 28 than before. You can slice and dice the data anyway you choose, but it's not progress. As I have said before, imagine if it were different: Imagine how the Bush team would be running ads announcing the percentage decline in fatalities and casualties, carefully selecting the data to maximize the statistics (like John Kerry's votes to raise taxes).
Instead, per usual, we get silence. Because in Bushworld, where up is down, these numbers are considered "progress" - progress they're so proud of, they dare not mention it.