How are we coming along in Iraq?

This is an honest question, I just would like to know what progress we have made up until this point. say..now to 6 months in the past. Are things more stable? are things a bit safer for our troops than they were a year ago? less bombings? less IEDs? more Iraqis stepping up? I just would feel a bit better knowing if our troops were making any leeway, or just breaking even as far as progress.