Good news on the heels of statistics indicating that troop deaths were down to the lowest level in 14 months.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Deaths among American forces and Iraqi civilians fell dramatically last month to their lowest levels in more than a year, according to figures compiled by the U.S. military, the Iraqi government and The Associated Press.

The decline signaled a U.S. success in bringing down violence in Baghdad and surrounding regions since Washington completed its infusion of 30,000 more troops on June 15.

A total of 64 American forces died in September—the lowest monthly toll since July 2006.

The decline in Iraqi civilian deaths was even more dramatic, falling from 1,975 in August to 922 last month, a decline of 53.3 percent. The breakdown in September was 844 civilians and 78 police and Iraqi soldiers, according to Iraq’s ministries of Health, Interior and Defense.

In August, AP figures showed 1,809 civilians and 155 police and Iraqi soldiers were killed in sectarian violence.

Clear evidence that the surge is working, though now that al Qaeda is on the run and the violence in Iraq has been slowed we need to see some progress from the Iraqi government in taking control.

But regardless, General Petraeus is getting his part of the job done in Iraq and deserves congratulations (and not accusations of betrayal, Democrats) for that.