GAO report: Only 3 of 18 Iraq benchmarks fully achieved

Regardless of what the White House orders General David Petraeus to tell Congress, an independent study shows a lack of progress on just about every front.  The GAO, which many had predicted would give a harsh critique of the political situation in Iraq, reports today that 11 of the 18 benchmarks have not been met:

After receiving substantial resistance from the White House, the GAOdetermined that four benchmarks — instead of two — had been partiallymet.

But the GAO stuck with its original contention that only three goalsout of the 18 had been fully achieved. The goals met includeestablishing joint security stations in Baghdad , ensuring minority rights in the Iraqi legislature and creating support committees for the Baghdad security plan.

In addition, Iraq has only met one of eight legislative benchmarks.  Remember, these were benchmarks the Iraqi government came up with in June of 2006 in order to gage success.

I really encourage all of you fix a cup of coffee, sit down and read this report.  Because things are becoming so politicized, especially with the new ad campaigns on both sides, this could be the last honest assessment we get before the war is over.  The main report is 15 pages.  The long one is 92.  So sit down, at least read the 15-page report, and tell us what you think.

• Summary
• 15-page report (.pdf)
• 92-page report (.pdf)

Comments

[granny]

I think it is at least AS important,right now, to read the David Bromwich piece at Huffington Post:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/iraq-israel-iran_b_62995.html
(copy and paste)

As regards Iraq, done is done at this point. As the dissemination of misinformation regarding Iraq heats up in the coming days, it is undoubtedly a good idea to have some credible information at hand. But we are not in for big surprises.The steadfast 25% will believe as they please. The rest are now more or less acquainted with a more realistic picture, if not with precise details.

I think it is fair to say, though, that many are still not conversant with some of the long term, underlying history that is driving this seriously dedicated world dominance agenda, which accounts for our presence in Iraq, and is now plunging headlong toward Iran.This obssession with the Middle East is based on a long standing series of alliances, beliefs, fears, and obssessions that if not understood, cannot be addressed straightforwardly. Unchecked it will lead farther and farther into massive moral and geo-political conflict, with yet unimaginable consequences.

I think Bromwich points us in a direction our attention should be turned.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Well-said, Granny. We are in the Middle East almost completely for energy reasons, and it's grown worse. See, this is what happens when we elect an oil president and a defense contractor vice president. You get war profiteering in places with oil.