You've heard about the internecine battles raging across Iraq, but did you hear the important news? A news release from the American Forces Press Service dishes up this tidbit: One Iraqi brick factory is now making as many bricks as it did six years ago, before the U.S. invasion.

Well, actually ... it's not yet making as many bricks, but thanks to what the military calls an improving security situation, the brick factory is getting pretty close to prewar capacity. Or, as the story puts it, "Revitalization of the Narhwan Brick Factory Complex has led to an explosion of employment."

Yes, an explosion of employment. It can't be long now till we see IEDs of democratic institutions and car bombs of healthcare and electricity echoing across Iraq. And how about some sniper fire of mortgage-crisis intervention right here in America? I'm on high alert.

The brick factory breaking news comes on the heels of another big development in Iraq. Chicken farming is also approaching prewar levels, the American Forces Press Service said last week.