though our troop level is still higher than "pre-surge" numbers

U.S. military says Iraq troop "surge" has ended
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We're at least 17,000 higher than before the surge, but they are claiming that we're back to pre-surge numbers....
Honestly and mathematics are not their strong points, i guess...
Oh and people conveniently "forget" that there have been other factors at work besides the "surge":

U.S. officials say the buildup helped cut violence in Iraq to four-year lows. Other factors were a decision by Sunni Arab tribal leaders to turn against al Qaeda and a ceasefire by anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia was accused of carrying out sectarian killings.

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