So how's that Surge working again?

Let's call this a New Year's tradition. Start off the year by pointing out the obvious to some wingnut and there is no one better to start off with than Rich Lowry.

Here's how the winning is going.

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber detonated a vest loaded with explosives at a Shia funeral in Baghdad today, killing 28 people and wounding 33.

Police say the late afternoon explosion occurred in the capital's eastern Zayouna neighbourhood, a mixed Shia and Sunni district.

The funeral was being held for Nabil Hussein Jassim, a retired lieutenant-colonel killed in an earlier car bombing in downtown Baghdad's Tayaran Square.

That blast left at least 14 people dead.

It's going so well that bombers are killing people attending the funerals of people killed by bombers.

Meanwhile, in Jalula, a city about 130 kilometres north of Baghdad, the bodies of a Sunni policeman and four of his relatives were found hours after they were abducted from their home by gunmen.

The abductions occurred in Diyala province, where "al-Qaeda in Iraq" retains a presence and violence has persisted despite falling elsewhere.

The insurgents have long targeted police, and "al-Qaeda in Iraq" has repeatedly said it will aggressively target those who join security forces.

Hours later in the same province, a Shia man and his 16-year-old son where killed in a drive-by shooting, police said. The two were standing outside their home in Tahwelah, about 30 kilometres east of Baqouba.

I'm certain someone will be dumb enough to suggest that these are isolated incidents.

And, it would appear these isolated incidents have actually increased.

Late Monday, Iraq's government released statistics on the number of civilians and members of security forces it said were killed in 2007.

According to the health, defence and interior ministries, 16,232 civilians, 432 soldiers and about 1,300 policeman died in 2007. The year before, the ministries said that 12,371 civilians, 603 soldiers and 1,224 policeman were killed.

The government figures were roughly in line with a count by The Associated Press.

For 2007, The AP count found that 18,610 Iraqis were killed. In 2006, the only other full year an AP count has been tallied, 13,813 died.

The AP count — which includes civilians, government officials, and police and security forces — is compiled from hospital, police and military officials, as well as accounts from reporters and photographers. Insurgent deaths were not included. Other counts differ and some have given higher civilian death tolls.

It's time for some new art Lowry. The old stuff just isn't doing the job.