The media has been lacking in reporting many angles, many believe that electricity and infrastrcture have improved, only a few outlets have reported that we are thinking of a major campaign to liberate Baghdad.

I also think that reporters should continue to embed – though at least a couple that I can think of right off the top of my head have had less than stellar experiences. And let’s not forget that they’ve been embedding for 3 years now. At its best I think embedding helps reporters – very few of whom have any experience with the real military – to understand the human face of war, and the professionalism of our military outside of the Abu Ghraib personalities. Also, I’ve begun to wonder, though I’ve seen nothing to indicate it, if US troops are not themselves beginning to scale back their efforts as the political cost increases back home, and support continues to erode within the military itself. If it isn’t happening yet, surely it will.

As for non-mbedded reporters – you are certainly correct in mentioning the difficulties and extraordinary dangers that entails and thus the need for local stringers. That is itself some of the most obvious and damning evidence that the most basic Iraqi need – personal security – has yet to be attained after hundreds of billions of dollars spent and 3 years of blood, sweat and tears.