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Iraq 'fails 11 of 18 key targets' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Iraq has failed to meet 11 of 18 key progress benchmarks set by the US, according to an independent report from a Congressional watchdog. | Iraq has failed to meet 11 of 18 key progress benchmarks set by the US, according to an independent report from a Congressional watchdog. |
Political progress in Iraq has been unsatisfactory and violence "remains high", the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found. | |
Iraq had met three benchmarks and partially met another four, it said. | Iraq had met three benchmarks and partially met another four, it said. |
The study was slightly more upbeat than leaks last week had suggested, following criticism from the Pentagon. | |
The draft report said three benchmarks had been met and only two benchmarks partially met. | The draft report said three benchmarks had been met and only two benchmarks partially met. |
Following leaks to the media, a Pentagon spokesman said officials had made some "factual corrections" and "offered some suggestions". | |
Washington reports | |
The GAO said Iraq had failed to live up to key targets on reducing sectarian violence and passing laws on oil revenue sharing. | |
The report contrasts with a White House study in July which found eight of the key US goals had been fully met. | |
The targets were established to monitor Iraq's military and political progress. | The targets were established to monitor Iraq's military and political progress. |
All eyes will be on Gen Petraeus when he reports next weekThe GAO findings come a day after President George W Bush visited Anbar province and said his security surge - the injection of an extra 30,000 troops into Iraq - was delivering results. | |
Tuesday's report is the first in a series of assessments over the next month on the success of the US troop surge in Iraq. | |
The most crucial findings could be the verdicts of General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq. | |
They will deliver a full progress report to Congress next week. | They will deliver a full progress report to Congress next week. |