This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6994601.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Iraq 'failing half US benchmarks' Iraq 'failing half US benchmarks'
(about 2 hours later)
Iraq's government has met nine out of 18 benchmarks on governance and security, a White House report says. The Iraqi government has made little progress in meeting key political and military targets set by the US, a White House report says.
The report, delivered to the US Congress, is one of several recent assessments by the US government. It says Iraq has performed satisfactory on nine out of 18 benchmarks - one more than in a previous assessment in July.
Among the failures, the report mentions militia control over security forces and not enacting a law on sharing oil resources among communities. Among the failures, it cites militia control over security forces and not enacting laws on sharing oil resources.
On Thursday, President George W Bush said the number of US troops would be reduced but strategy was successful. It comes a day after President George W Bush said the number of US troops would be reduced but strategy was successful.
He said he had accepted the advice of the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, who gave a progress report to Congress earlier this week.He said he had accepted the advice of the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, who gave a progress report to Congress earlier this week.
The plan would take troop numbers back to their level before Mr Bush ordered a "surge" at the start of this year.The plan would take troop numbers back to their level before Mr Bush ordered a "surge" at the start of this year.
The Democrats had called for a change of course, accusing the president of giving no plan on how to end the war.The Democrats had called for a change of course, accusing the president of giving no plan on how to end the war.
Only improvement De-Baathification
Based on data available as of 1 September 2007, the report says "the Iraqis have made satisfactory progress since January 2007 on nine benchmarks". The report, delivered to Congress, is the Bush administration's own assessment of the situation in Iraq. It is one of several recent US reports on Iraq's progress.
It suggests improvement in only one area compared with the initial assessment in July - allowing former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to hold government positions.
Among the targets met by the Iraqi government were:
  • forming a constitutional review committee and completing the review
READ THE REPORT IN FULL Final Benchmarks Assessment Report [128 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT IN FULL Final Benchmarks Assessment Report [128 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
Based on data available as of 1 September 2007, it says "the Iraqis have made satisfactory progress since January 2007 on nine benchmarks".
It suggests improvement in only one area compared with the initial assessment in July - reconciling former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.
The report says that more than 45,000 former army personnel have already been granted pensions or reinstated to active duty.
Among the targets where the Iraqi government had made satisfactory progress were:
  • forming a constitutional review committee and completing the review
  • enacting and implementing legislation on de-Baathification
  • enacting and implementing legislation on de-Baathification
  • legislation in semi-autonomous regions
  • legislation in semi-autonomous regions
    • But failure was registered in meeting benchmarks related to: But failure was registered in meeting seven benchmarks, including:
    • the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources
    • the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources
  • increasing the number of Iraqi security forces able to operate independently
  • increasing the number of Iraqi security forces able to operate independently
  • ensuring that Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against foreign forces
  • ensuring that Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against foreign forces
    • The report also said it was too early to assess two benchmarks - amnesty legislation and a militia disarmament programme.
    'Beyond benchmarks'
    In a statement, the White House said that even though Iraqis had failed to pass key national legislation, "the objectives of such laws are in some ways already being achieved" in practice.In a statement, the White House said that even though Iraqis had failed to pass key national legislation, "the objectives of such laws are in some ways already being achieved" in practice.
    Oil revenues, for instance, were being shared equally, it said, adding this was what the benchmarks were intended to produce "even if the formal benchmarks themselves have not been met".Oil revenues, for instance, were being shared equally, it said, adding this was what the benchmarks were intended to produce "even if the formal benchmarks themselves have not been met".
    And it said that US efforts in Iraq extended far beyond the 18 benchmarks.And it said that US efforts in Iraq extended far beyond the 18 benchmarks.
    "We continue to work with the Iraqis to establish the strategic environment in which security and meaningful reconciliation can develop and take root - in ways not easily measured by these benchmarks," the statement said."We continue to work with the Iraqis to establish the strategic environment in which security and meaningful reconciliation can develop and take root - in ways not easily measured by these benchmarks," the statement said.