Is this due to increased security measures, or are the Baghdad mufsidun just laying low until Pelosi and Murtha get their way? 

"Not only official statements say so (Defense ministry officials said today that attacks are down by 80% in Baghdad). It’s a reality I live in nowadays, at least in my neighborhood and its surroundings. It is also what I hear from friends and relatives in other parts of the city.
We are hearing fewer explosions and less gunfire now than two weeks ago and that, in Baghdad, qualifies as quiet."

Mohammed believes it's too soon to celebrate, but he points out another feature of what is going on in Iraq that you won't read from sources in America.

"In addition to soldiers and policemen, most checkpoints have one or more traffic policemen reportedly being equipped with laptops that enable them to flag suspected vehicles by offering instant access to vehicle-registration databases.

Side by side with new security efforts is a campaign to clean and redecorate many streets, circles and parks in Baghdad. New trees are planted and damaged street medians and sidewalks are being refurbished. This offers a small yet much needed breeze of hope and normalcy to the traumatized city."

Actions such as these give the Iraqi people hope that they may be getting closer to a peaceful democracy.  Meanwhile Pelosi and Murtha are giving hope to a whole different group of people; our enemies. 

"Murtha, who chairs the House panel overseeing military spending, doesn't think a single Army unit meets those standards, which would effectively stop the president's plan to send more than 21,000 extra troops. "

Not only does this traiter denigrate our troops, but his verbal eruptions undermine our efforts.  If the bad guys are "laying low", it is because they are waiting for Murtha and his cohorts in Congress to succeed and pull troop funding.  Murtha, I'd like to know more about your so-called "honorable" service...just how honorable was it?  They say there's no such thing as an "ex-Marine", but John Murtha proves that to be untrue.

The real bottom line with the American left:  BUSH CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN IRAQ!  They have too much invested in seeing him defeated.  [hat tip:  Ogre]  How the advertisement got on there, I have no idea!  I cut it from the piece I posted about Murtha, but it is still showing up!  Ford, or whomever, owes me some bucks for the advertising!  grrrrrrrr