General Petraeus: Surge Is Working, Could Reduce Troops

According to CNN report from Washington "The troops "surge" in Iraq is improving the security situation in the country, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Congress on Monday."

Gen. David Petraeus arrived for testimony to Congress on Monday.

Gen. David Petraeus said today he and his tactical commanders see "improvement in the security environment" in Iraq.

Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., hailed Petraeus and a second witness, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, as “two of our nation’s most capable public servants.”

And yet, he quickly said, “military progress without political progress is meaningless….We need to get out of Iraq, for that country’s sake and for our own.”

CNN - "A U.S. military chart indicates monthly casualties in Baghdad, which spiked in November at 2,200, dropped to 980 last month. The chart does not break the casualties down into deaths and injuries."

"The military data focus only on Baghdad and do not address the increase in violence in other parts of the country since the Baghdad security plan kicked off in February."