Dan Among Den

Oh I don't know about that. They've also been paying attention to the really odd math Petraeus is using to show how the surge is working.
Like deaths by car bombs don't count for some reason.
And assassinations are only assassinations if they got popped in the back of the head. From the front is not counted.
Of course the civilian casualty rate is still climbing so where exactly can he with a straight face that the surge is working.
Oh and more U.S. Troops have died every month this year vs last years numbers. So if you count the bodies the surge is great... for casket makers.

Still you gotta hand it to Patraeus for managing to read the nice report the white house wrote for him with somewhat of a straight face. That's a real soldier. Taking one for the President.
Though he's smart enough to not at least come out and say "hey it's a success" cause even he realizes he's gonna need some credibility if he wants any kind of job after he retires military. Unlike Cheney and his cadre who will have made enough profit to never have to worry about it come next election.

I'm sure you could find fault in any metric he chose, but he's applying the same metrics to before and after. From what I've read, those metrics mostly point to success.

As for the increased troop casualties, these are very regrettable, but they were expected with increased numbers and combat missions of the troops. That measure, in itself, is not a sign of failure.

I must say, though, that I find your dismissal of Patraeus rather offensive. He is a career officer, and he is not just shilling for the White House. He is the commanding officer of that theater, and he is giving sworn testimony to Congress. Many on the left, however, were accusing him of perjury before he even opened his mouth. That, in my opinion, is a dishonorable and deceitful act.

Dude he's one of the few generals left that didn't already resign in disgust starting with when Rumsfeld was in control. Most of the really competent and battle proven have "retired" these last 6 years rather than be a part of what is going on.
Patraeus is a "career general" which is almost a political thing in itself. The fact that he's commanding that theater doesn't mean jack for his integrity. The Bush White House has always promoted and put people sympathetic/malleable or just bent their way in as many positions of power as they can.
If they can't find a man of integrity who is willing to take orders like a good soldier to use (see Powell)They just put one has no problem reading his cue cards.

As for metrics... car bombs no longer counting is new. Same goes for what is considered assassinations now. They changed the rules to make their metrics look good.
The sign of failure is not how many more troops are dying that's a byproduct of us sending more targets over there to make it a target rich environment. The signs of failure are so numerous I can't even begin to chronicle them here. They started the minute Bush tried to say Saddam was responsible for 9-11 and continue daily.