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Iraq 'failing half US benchmarks' Iraq 'failing half US benchmarks'
(39 minutes later)
The Iraqi government has made little progress in meeting key political and military targets set by the US, 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.
It says Iraq has performed satisfactory on nine out of 18 benchmarks - one more than in a previous assessment in July.It says Iraq has performed satisfactory on nine out of 18 benchmarks - one more than in a previous assessment in July.
Among the failures, it cites militia control over security forces and not enacting laws on sharing oil resources.Among the failures, it cites militia control over security forces and not enacting laws on sharing oil resources.
It comes a day after President George W Bush said the number of US troops would be reduced but strategy was successful. The report comes a day after President George W Bush announced a troop withdrawal from Iraq.
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 his own progress report to Congress earlier this week and said the recent military "surge" in Iraq was working.
The plan would take troop numbers back to their level before Mr Bush ordered a "surge" at the start of this year. Mr Bush's plan would take troop numbers back to about 130,000 by July 2008 - the level before the build-up began in February.
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.
De-BaathificationDe-Baathification
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.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.
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".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. It mentions improvement in only one area compared with the initial assessment by the White House 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. The report says 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:Among the targets where the Iraqi government had made satisfactory progress were:
  • forming a constitutional review committee and completing the review
  • forming a constitutional review committee and completing the review
  • enacting and implementing legislation on de-Baathification
  • legislation in semi-autonomous regions
  • enacting and implementing legislation on de-Baathification
  • legislation in semi-autonomous regions
    • But failure was registered in meeting seven benchmarks, including: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
    • ensuring that Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against foreign forces
  • 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
    • The report also said it was too early to assess two benchmarks - amnesty legislation and a militia disarmament programme.The report also said it was too early to assess two benchmarks - amnesty legislation and a militia disarmament programme.
    Overall, the White House paints a mixed picture but admits that progress by the national government has been disappointing, the BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington says.
    The report does, however, offers justification for an enduring relationship with the Iraqi government, our correspondent says.
    'Beyond benchmarks''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 August, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) - a Congressional watchdog - said Iraq had met only three out of the 18 benchmarks.
    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". The Bush administration later challenged a report, saying the GAO portrayed the situation only in "blacks and whites" and ignored "grey" areas of progress.
    After the release of the latest report, 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, "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.