MICHAEL YON EMAILS:

All the talk back in America of partitioning Iraq is a mistake. There is some desire by the Kurds, but overall Iraqis seem very much against the idea of partition.

On another note, during a CNN interview this weekend, I reiterated what I have been saying for some time:

“I’ve seen a very serious change in the seas. I’m not predicting this but I would not be at all surprised to see a precipitous drop in violence in Iraq in general over the next six months or so. I just would not be surprised based on the things that I’m seeing in Nineveh province, out in Anbar, up in Baghdad and out in Diyala and out here. Will it last, nobody knows, but it’s certainly, the indicators are starting to look better and better.”

Let’s hope that continues. This seems like good news, too.

UPDATE: In a followup email, Michael writes:

Al Qaeda is in trouble in Iraq. The civil war that was growing in 2005, and then began erupting in 2006, is now on the decline. I was extremely worried during 2006 that al Qaeda would succeed by engulfing Iraq in civil war, but the Iraqis I speak with in various provinces are now smart about what AQI was up to. AQI tactics are backfiring — hugely backfiring. Strangely, al Qaeda, who nearly caused a complete meltdown, is becoming helpful in uniting Iraq. Strange world, Glenn!

AQI is still dangerous, but they are losing ground month by month. This is a good article.

And here’s much more on that subject, rounded up by Fausta Wertz. (Bumped).