“The good news on the IED front in Afghanistan is that it’s no longer a huge story,” USA Today reports.

“Attacks from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) dropped 19% for the three-month period that ended on July 31. And U.S. troops continue to find and defuse bombs better than ever. Soldiers and Marines on foot patrol now find 85% of makeshift bombs compared with 80% last year.”

“The bad news? Roadside bombs remain the top threat to U.S. troops, causing 61% of all casualties. It’s worse for Afghan security forces, who have seen attacks on them increase 74%. That compares with the same period in 2012.”