If Iraq is left until Patreaus' September progress report, it will be:

[Subdivisions]

"The Surge" is working and we are making progress but we need more time to achieve victory.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. DING DING DING!!

We have a winner.

Johnny....what do we have for our winner today?

18 Months of continued stagnation, and WAR without end.

Congratulations!

[livvy]

2. When does Ramadan begin this year?

I read a report recently that indicated US casualties have increased during Ramadan (an average of 61%). Last year it began on Sept. 23, but in previous years it began in October, from the 5th in '05, the 15th in '04, and the 26th in '03. Will the report be released before the beginning of Ramadan? It certainly will be released before the end, since Ramadan lasts a month. If the report precedes the end of the holy month, it will not reflect the increase in casualties, and thus not give a true picture of what is happening, or the success of the "surge".
On edit: I think it is from September 13 to October 8 this year.
From the report (pdf):
http://www.icasualties.org/oif/U.S.%20Military%20Fatalities%20in%20Iraq%20in%20Perspective.pdf

Phase 6 - Insurgent Offensive: Sept. 23, 2006 until March 19, 2007
U.S. fatalities escalate during Ramadan, Baghdad Defense Plan fails:
With the approach of Ramadan, which began on September 23, an insurgent
offensive caused U.S. fatalities to accelerate again, reaching the highest levels
in over a year, with 107 dead during the Muslim holy month. By the end of the
holiday on October 22, three months after the United States joined the civil
strife, the results of U.S. efforts in Baghdad were described by U.S. generals as
‘‘disheartening’’ and judged by most observers as a failure.(pg. 7 of the pdf.)

While their actions and motives may seem alien to us, the insurgents’
numerous initiatives have exhibited recurring patterns and an underlying
strategic intelligence. Consider the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Iraq
war has coincided with four observances of Ramadan. Each one has witnessed
an upsurge in violence towards Americans, as evidenced by an increase in the
rate of U.S. fatalities per day, compared to other periods of the war.
As shown in Table 3, U.S. military fatalities increased by an average of
over 60 percent during Ramadan compared with the rest of the war. (pg 14 of the pdf.)