There's been a march of good news lately from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yes, good news from a region where many Americans don't necessarily expect it.

Here's what we've seen recently:

• Last weekend, Iraq staged its latest parliamentary elections. Once again, Iraqis mobbed the polls, defying threats — and several blasts in Baghdad — intended to scare them away.

Here's something just as impressive: The current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and his leading challenger, Ayad Allawi, the former prime minister, both campaigned as secular leaders. They promised to unite Iraqis. Apparently, that's what Iraqis want: The two look to be in a close race as votes are counted.

Remember not so long ago, when Iraq was consumed by what looked to be a civil war of Sunni vs. Shiite vs. Kurd? Remember the proposals to partition the country into three states, because, as the theory went, Iraqis of different religions couldn't live together? There were fears then that religious extremists would hijack the government.

That hasn't happened. And it isn't happening. Iraq's democracy is robust, its government and armed forces growing more confident by the day.

That's good news for President Barack Obama's plans to withdraw American combat troops by Sept. 1 and the rest of American forces by the end of 2011. There are about 96,000 American troops there now, down from 136,000 a year ago. There's no reason to change that timetable.

(Footnote: Iraq election turnout, 62 percent. Illinois primary election turnout, 23 percent.)

• In Afghanistan, U.S.-led forces routed the Taliban from their sanctuary in Marjah. And the U.S. vowed to leave behind something not often seen here: an effective government and police force. That's the crux of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan.

So far, it looks to be working. McChrystal, the senior commander in Afghanistan, issued an upbeat statement last month. He said the situation still is dangerous, but it is no longer deteriorating. Case in point: One major Afghan tribe announced in January that it was switching sides, turning against the Taliban and working with the government.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is following a strategy that worked in Iraq: He's offering jobs to lower- and midlevel Taliban fighters if they'll abandon their weapons. Karzai's government still is weak and corrupt, but Afghans remain optimistic about the future. In a major poll late last year, 71 percent said they believe life in their country will get better.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Afghanistan this week and said there were "grounds for optimism." But he also warned of "more dark days" ahead.

• Pakistan's spy service turned on a longtime client, arresting the Taliban's top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

That's a huge breakthrough. Pakistan's military intelligence service had long cultivated and supported the Taliban in Afghanistan. The arrest of Baradar — and the strong showing of Pakistan's army in an anti-terror campaign last year — is a strong signal that Pakistan's leaders are confident of America's intention to prevail in Afghanistan.

Since Baradar's arrest, Pakistan has rounded up several other top Taliban leaders. (Hmmm. Think Baradar's talking?) American commanders have stressed for years that the war in Afghanistan couldn't be won if Pakistan didn't crack down on Taliban leaders and eradicate the safe havens for terrorists in its tribal regions.

Credit the Obama administration for ratcheting up diplomatic pressure, for its lethally effective surge of U.S. drone strikes against Taliban leaders in Pakistan and for taking the domestic heat and approving a troop surge in Afghanistan.

Those aren't just snippets of good news amid a swamp of bad. These are blindingly bright signs of progress. The momentum is shifting in favor of stability and democracy in places that are critical to U.S. national security.