Meanwhile,...

...back in the part of Iraq to which most major US media actually pays some measure of attention,

[a] minibus packed with explosives detonated in northeastern Baghdad on Sunday morning, [CNN reports,] killing at least 12 people and wounding 22 others, according to an Interior Ministry official. ...

Another roadside bomb wounded four people when it exploded in southwestern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official said. The official said the bomb was targeting an Iraqi police patrol but missed its target.

Another roadside bomb exploded near eastern Baghdad's al-Kindi Hospital, wounding nine people, the official said. Three police officers were among those hurt, he said.

Two people were wounded by a bomb that targeted but missed a convoy of SUVs in southeast Baghdad's al-Ghadir neighborhood Sunday morning, the official said.

So that's 12 dead, 37 wounded. Does it matter if "violence is down?" Not to them, it doesn't.