IraqPundit writes of the media perceptions of the Iraq war, and the cautious optimism in signs of improvement. What are the real measures of “success” in such a quagmire?

Don’t tell anybody, but Iraqis like me do indeed think that “stopping the violence in and of itself constitutes success.” Not total success; we’d certainly like to see political progress as well, and as soon as possible. But protecting and saving innocent Iraqi lives means something, no?

In related news, Boston.com illustrates just what can be achieved with $611 billion dollars, the current projected costs of this war.