Centcom reported on Wednesday....

....that they had detained 314 "insurgents" in the Mosul area since Jan 5, 2005. Today, Centcom reported that they had detained 341 "insurgents" since Jan 5. In other words, since Wednesday, they've detained an additional 27 "insurgents".

Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) continued operations to ensure security for the elections, detaining ten individuals in northern Iraq Jan 29.

Multi-National Force Soldiers detained eight individuals suspected of anti-Iraqi activity while conducting a raid south of Mosul. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.

Iraqi Intervention Forces detained two individuals suspected of anti-Iraqi activity while conducting cordon and search operations in the Saliy Al Noor Mosque in southeastern Mosul. The IIF also confiscated weapons from the individuals. Suspects are in custody with no IIF injuries reported.

Military officials have said the Mosul area is becoming safer with each seizure and removal of dangerous weapons and detention of anti-Iraqi insurgents. Since Jan. 5 Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces have detained 341 individuals and confiscated numerous weapons and munitions. The operations will continue to increase as elections near to ensure the safety of Iraqi citizens wishing to vote.

My sense is that things have changed dramatically since Fallujah, despite the drumbeat of negative reports from the media.