From Wednesday’s Washington Post:

President Bush complained this week that it is hard to tell progress is being made in Iraq "when you listen to the filter" of the news media.

So let’s skip the media filter and go straight to the State Department:

This information is current as of today, Mon Oct 13 00:20:26 2003.

IRAQ

October 2, 2003
This Travel Warning provides updated information on the security situation in Iraq and advises Americans of the bombings at the UN headquarters that resulted in deaths and injuries of American citizens and threats against expatriate targets. The security threat to all American citizens in Iraq remains high. This replaces the Travel Warning of August 22, 2003.

There have been a number of explosions in Baghdad, including at hotels, the UN headquarters, and the Jordanian Embassy. In addition, there have been planned and random killings, as well as extortions and kidnappings. The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq. Although the restrictions on the use of U.S. passport travel to, in or through Iraq has been lifted, travel to Iraq remains extremely dangerous. Remnants of the former Baath regime, transnational terrorists, and criminal elements remain active. Coalition led military operations continue, and there are daily attacks against Coalition forces throughout the country. Hotels, restaurants and locations with expatriate staff are being targeted. The security environment in all of Iraq remains volatile and unpredictable. Attacks against coalition forces as well as civilian targets occur throughout the day, but travel at night is extremely dangerous.

All vehicular travel in Iraq is extremely dangerous, and there have been attacks on civilian as well as military convoys. Travel in or through Ramadi and Faluja is particularly dangerous. There has been an increase in the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and/or mines on roads, particularly in plastic bags, soda cans, and dead animals. Grenades and explosives have been thrown into vehicles from overpasses, particularly in crowded areas.