The most reliable source I can find regarding the level of violence in Iraq is the Iraq Body Count Project (IBC). Starting from day one of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, IBC has updated, compiled and published highly reliable and verifiable numbers documenting the state of terror that we have unleashed in Iraq. Our own sacrifice of almost 4000 dead and more than 20,000 wounded U.S. soldiers pales in comparison to the hardships and suffering of the Iraq people. According to IBC’s analysis the military ’surge’ had minimal effect on the level of violence in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq. Look at the numbers, judge for yourself. Be skeptical if you hear rosy statistics about Iraq from officials.