It’s no call to starting singing lines from Bye Bye Birdy, “Put On A Happy Face” about the overall course of things in Iraq, I know. And it’s not even sure to last, what with al-Qaeda getting “resurgent” - or, as I prefer to call it, “frisky” - again. But like the nice young gentleman in the clean white collar shirt, tie and backpack said to me before making the sign of the cross and fleeing at the sight of my apartment, “I’ve got to spread the Good News.”

October had the lowest number of US military fatalities in Iraq since March of 2006 - third lowest in the entire war - with 37 soldiers killed.

It is the lowest number since 32 troops died in March 2006 and the second-lowest since 20 troop deaths in February 2004, according to an Associated Press count based on military figures.

That would be the second consecutive drop in monthly figures, after 65 Americans died in September and 84 in August.

This unqualified good - and unqualified success for the warriors on the ground - merited a post of its own.