U.N. says U.S. surge moved Iraq violence around

The question as to just how much good the Petraeus “surge” in Iraq did got more scrutiny as to whether it didn’t just shuttle violence out of Baghdad to the countryside:

As security improved in Baghdad, violent attacks spread last year to other parts of the country, including Diyala Province and Mosul, al-Qaida’s last urban stronghold, according to the report from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.

American officials refused comment.

It’s been a question in the mind of anti-war bloggers for months.