American troops continue to carry out nearly a thousand patrols a day, many at night, and dozens of raids. The raids in urban areas are becoming more sophisticated, often involving more negotiation with people in the neighborhood. A recent series of raids in the western desert uncovered large arms caches, including at least half a dozen surface-to-air missiles. Offering rewards for information is paying off, with the number of reliable tips increasing. Unlike the past, where Iraqis would pass on false information to harass other Iraqis, the rewards program does not pay off unless the information is good.