-- The Iraqi special operations forces and Hillah SWAT units, with which we were embedded in December, killed or captured more than 200 "high-profile criminals" for which they had arrest warrants. Most of those apprehended or killed were renegade members of Muqtada al-Sadr's Jaish al-Mahdi (the Mahdi army).

-- Intelligence collected during the operation confirms that Iranian Quds Force fighters have heavily infiltrated southern Iraq and that Iranian weapons, explosives and equipment continue to be delivered to areas previously controlled by the Mahdi army.

-- Though the Iraqi security forces lack the sophisticated casualty evacuation and medical treatment available to U.S. troops, their compassion toward wounded and injured noncombatants rallied civilians to the side of the Iraqi government.

One U.S. commander summed it up this way: "This was a necessary operation, and it couldn't have happened without 'the surge.' By going after the Shiite militias, Maliki has proven to the Sunnis that he intends to be evenhanded in the process of bringing law and order to Iraq. The Iraqi troops fought well in both day and night operations. Their officers and NCOs are leading from the front. The militias -- and their Iranian sponsors -- got their butts kicked."

On Tuesday, Petraeus and Crocker likely will use less colorful language to describe the increasing effectiveness and challenges facing our Iraqi allies. The only question: Are the administration's critics willing to listen?