We're making progress...well, not actually

The Iraqis are not even close to achieving the benchmarks that we set out for them six months ago:

The Bush administration, which six months ago issued a series of political goals for the Iraqi government to meet by this month, is now tacitly acknowledging that the goals will take significantly longer to achieve.

In interviews this week, administration officials said that the military buildup intended to stabilize Baghdad and create the conditions for achieving the objectives would not be fully in place until June and that all of the objectives would not be fulfilled until the year’s end.

Four of the significant objectives are final approval of an oil law regulating distribution of oil revenues and foreign investment in the oil industry; reversal of the de-Baathification laws that are widely blamed for alienating Sunnis by driving them out of government ministries; the holding of local elections; and reform of Iraq's Constitution.

It's okay though, right?  We are staying the course and turning the corner -- so what have we to lose besides more troops and more treasury money?

In all seriousness, this is worse than Vietnam.