If it's Friday afternoon, it must be the Pentagon releasing a detailed report admitting Iraq is a chaotic, bloody mess. (PDF of the report available here):

Iraqi casualties soared by more than 50 percent during the roughly three-month period ending in early August, the product of spiraling sectarian clashes and a Sunni-based insurgency that remains “potent and viable,” the Pentagon noted today in an comprehensive assessment of security in Iraq....

“Death squads and terrorists are locked in mutually reinforcing cycles of sectarian strife, with Sunni and Shia extremists each portraying themselves as the defenders of their respective sectarian groups,” the report noted. “The Sunni Arab insurgence remains potent and viable.”

What a different picture than that painted by Lieberman during the debate:

The situation in Iraq is a lot better, different than it was a year ago. The Iraqis held three elections. They formed a unity government. They are on the way to building a free and independent Iraq. Their military -- two-thirds of their military is now ready, on their own, to lead the fight with some logistical backing from the U.S. or stand up on their own totally. That's progress....

So I am confident that the situation is improving enough on the ground that by the end of this year, we will begin to draw down significant numbers of American troops....

Joe Lieberman is as credible on Iraq as George Bush.