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Perfect tone - makes 2003 and 2004 look like the goof parade.  A careful and great choice of words - "Iraq is in a much better place than it was a year ago."

All any official in a democracy can say in public - "My fellow citizens all the future holds is: blood, toil, tears and sweat." --- NOT - "U.S. Cites Big Gains Against Al-Qaeda" or the infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner.

As Churchill taught us 70 years ago, officials in a democracy can go slightly out on a limb and use the 'better place' and 'worse place' dichotomy.  With a great strategic victory (i.e. the Battle of Britain or the emergence of Democratic Iraq in say 2025), a democratic leader might be very bold and use "the end of the beginning."  Otherwise, stand on Churchill's wise shoulders, and say over and over again, "Blood, toil, tears and sweat."

For example, a general could say, "Iraq is in a better place than it was a year ago in these three areas - oil exports, security forces and internal politics.  Yet Iraq is in a worse place in this area - Iranian supported violence"  In another formulation, a general or democratic official might use a three part message, "We have a long fight ahead and we are not where we want to be but thank God, we are not were we were."

During any war, of any duration, the foundation of all public messaging by democratic officials at every level, even in the last hours of the conflict, is always:

"Blood, toil, tears and sweat."