The 50% reduction in deaths is no doubt a positive sign. However, much needs to be done to ensure normalcy as it smells like the silence before the storm, at least for now. Moreover, the death rate cannot be a criterion to judge the success of the mission or placate the Iraqi people – what’s done is done. Though Bush presented an upbeat report yesterday, however, these stories speak something else. The army is doing nothing to tackle the Kurdish rebels - rather they do not have any ready plan either - and it won’t be that easy, especially to handle the sectarian divide.

Most importantly, the concerned parties should also ask, whether ”no news is good news or bad news?” Is the so-called new Iraq ready for a fresh/more powerful Al Qaeda attack? Of course, they’re preparing a massive one this time - who knows! So, instead of ”staying”, US should now emphasize more on ”planned positively constructive stay”.