MSM's Iraq Mantra: "Overall Violence is Down"

If I had a dime for every time I've seen this phrase in MSM reporting on Iraq since 2009 . . . .   This time, it's CNN, reporting on an incident yesterday in Baghdad, where at least 6 gunmen invaded a house and shor dead three women and a man.  Says the report:

 "Overall, violence is down considerably in Iraq from its peak between 2005 and 2007. However, assassinations, bombs, gunfire and mortar attacks remain regular occurrences."

Yet, if you're paying attention (as Antiwar.com and Joel Wing have), you'd know that this kind of thing has been happening daily in Iraq since the "victory" via the Surge.  At Antiwar.com, Margaret Griffiths has been noting the daily tolls in Iraq. 
On Saturday,

At least four Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence.

In Baghdad, a policeman was shot to death in Ilam. A bomb targeting an Education Ministry official wounded two bystanders in Karrada. Gunmen wounded a policeman in Kadhimiya. A Washash bombing left two wounded. A federal policeman was killed in a shooting in Saidiya.

In Hawija, the body of a Sahwa leader was found several days after he had been kidnapped. Two suspects were arrested in an unrelated event.

A sticky bomb killed a man in Kirkuk.

A sticky bomb wounded a policeman in Khalidiya, severing parts of his legs.

Four suspects were arrested in Anbar province.

For the rest of last week

Friday: 2 Iraqis Killed, 10 Wounded – April 15th, 2011
Thursday: 3 Iraqis Killed, 32 Wounded – April 14th, 2011
Wednesday: 2 Iraqis Killed, 28 Wounded – April 13th, 2011
Tuesday: 15 Iraqis Killed, 27 Wounded – April 12th, 2011
Monday: 29 Iraqis Killed, 51 Wounded – April 11th, 2011

I'm sure you noticed the extensive coverage all of this received in your newspaper or on TV . . . didn't you?

Let's face it.  As far as the US is concerned, the continuing violent deaths that Mr. Bush's Iraq adventure set in motion in Iraq have become no more than a footnote, the occasionally sour, faint notes in the background noise to what Thomas Friedman would tell us is the triumphal march to democracy that "our" liberation of them has brought to Iraqis.  After all, says he,

The primary ingredient of a democracy — real pluralism where people feel a common destiny, act as citizens and don’t believe their minority has to be in power to be safe or to thrive — is in low supply in [Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya]. It can emerge, as Iraq shows. But it takes time.

Our work is done there, isn't it, Tom?  Everyone is getting along, aren't they?  I mean, the prime minister cares so much about his citizens that he's decided to restrict demonstrations in Baghdad to three sports stadiums.  Guess he just wants them to be comfortable, huh?