While Democrats are busy calling for a change of course in Iraq, trying to cut war funding in half, and Hollywood works away at demoralizing the country, the situation in Iraq continues to improve.

U.S. combat troop deaths and other violence in Iraq are down significantly in some of the most dangerous places of insurgent activity, including Al Anbar province, military officials in Washington and Baghdad said Wednesday.

Maybe most significant was that last week there was not a single military casualty — Iraqi or U.S. — in Anbar, said Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, a Joint Chiefs spokesman. It is apparently the first time since March 2003 that could be said.

Violence in and around Baghdad is down by 59%. Car bombings are down by 65%, and casualties from car bombings are down by 80%. Casualties from enemy attacks are down by 77%, operations against Iraqi Security Forces down by 62%, while assassination attempts are down by 72%.

Earlier Wednesday Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, and Iraqi Gen. Abud Qanbar briefed reporters from Baghdad, also showing violence decreasing since the surge peak.

Odierno said that with the decrease in violence, he expected the U.S. military to be able to hand over 40 to 50 percent of operations to the Iraqis by the end of 2008.

“We are anxious for them to take over full responsibility as they are anxious to take full responsibility,” Odierno said.

“You will see steady progress over the next 12 months of us turning large portions of Baghdad (over) to Iraqi security forces as we continue to have success. I think it will be somewhere between 40 and 50 percent by the end of the year,” he said.

He added he “doesn’t have a crystal ball” but this is the plan.

“The terrorist operations have decreased to their lowest levels,” Qanbar said.

Which means it’s time for Democrats to call for a change of course in Iraq. Progress be damned, they’ve got Senate seats to pick up in ’08.

H/t Ace.