Top 12 factors (one citizen's view)

Here's an even shorter list of what I consider to be the top 12 factors to watch right now.

This does not mean that we should only look at this subset. In my opinion, every item on the previous post's list of 34 is of high importance and worthy of being measured, tracked, and reported consistently in near real time.

In fact, while perhaps of not as high importance (and opinions will of course vary on this), almost every item on the list of 142 deserves regular attention - measurement, tracking, and reporting - so that the full picture can be brought into view.

From the Brookings Iraq Index Report

• Iraqi Deaths from All Violent Causes

U.S Dept. of State's Iraq Weekly Status Report (30 pages, January 10, 2007).

• Crude oil production

5 trend graphs drawn from Iraq Coalition Casualties

• US Soldiers Killed with moving avg & event timing - March 2003 - December 30, 2006
• US Soldiers Wounded with moving avg - Sept 6, 2003 - Dec 29, 2006

from Michael O'Hanlon's testimony. 30 factors

• Daily Average of Inter-ethnic Attacks
• Avg Hours/Day of Power Baghdad (prewar 20)
• Unemployment Rate (%)

Additional factors (missing metrics) contained in the text of O'Hanlon's testimony

• Rate of Jobs Creation

55 missing metrics/invisible indicators/faceless factors from Brookings Iraq Index

• Iraqis Kidnapped in Baghdad (table page 15)
• Number of total daily patrols (chart page 23)
• People with potable water (table page 42)
• Percentage of Iraqis who strongly oppose presence of Coalition troops (table page 51)

What does your short list look like?