We caught up with independent journalist Michael Yon via satellite phone this afternoon. Yon, who’s been covering Operation Arrowhead Ripper in the (former) Al Qaedah stronghold of Baqubah reports on how things are going, what he thinks will happen next, and his thoughts on the likely consequences of premature withdrawal.

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UPDATE: Money quote: “I see progress being made here now. I see the surge working, and it’s working faster than I actually thought it could.”