Talking with reporters yesterday, Multi-National Force commander, Gen. David Petraeus previewed his generally optimistic assessment of the situation in Iraq.                            A finalized assessment will constitute the core of his report to President Bush and Congress next month.  Gen. Petraeus noted that Al Qaeda, though weakened, remains the biggest threat, and that coalition gains must not be squandered by precipitant troop withdrawals.  Here is what he said about the continuing Al Qaeda threat and how coalition and Iraqi forces plan to deal with it.  Al Qaeda remains the biggest threat, and over time Coalition and Iraqi forces have killed, captured or run off substantial numbers of the terror group. But there is still a lot of work to do in the Diyala and Tigris river valleys, and in Iraq's...(Read Full Post)