Report: Slow Progress On Iraq Benchmarks

White House Issues Discouraging Iraq Report A Day After Bush Touts Success

(CBS/AP)  The White House told Congress Friday that Iraqi leaders gained little new ground on key military and political goals, a discouraging assessment a day after President Bush announced that progress justifies keeping a large U.S. military presence there.

The report underscored the difficulty of Mr. Bush's argument that continued American sacrifice was creating space for Iraqi leaders to make gains on tamping down the sectarian fighting that leaves Iraq persistently fractured and violent. Mr. Bush reinforced that theme in an appearance Friday at a Marine base in Quantico, Va.

"There's a lot of courage in Iraq," he said after having lunch with about 250 Marines, family members and officers. "The Iraqis are in the fight, but I also made it clear to them that we expect the Iraqi government to enhance national reconciliation through the passage of law."

At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Michigan, Vice President Dick Cheney said "the troop surge has achieved solid results and in a relatively short period of time."

Their optimistic view was contradicted somewhat by the administration's release Friday of a required status report on Iraqi benchmarks.

The first assessment, in July, showed the Iraqi government was making satisfactory progress toward meeting eight of 18 goals and unsatisfactory progress on eight others. Two others couldn't be rated for performance.

Friday's follow-up report to Congress concluded that Iraqis have done enough to move only one benchmark - allowing former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to hold government positions - from the unsatisfactory to satisfactory column.

The shift was due to a pact made last month among leading Iraqi politicians from all major sects. Iraqi officials have announced similar deals in the past only to have them fall apart.

"The overarching goal of de-Baathification reform is political accommodation between the Shia and Sunni communities," the report said. "The leaders' agreement combined with the return of former Baathists to civic life is a significant step in that regard."

Bush officials said there hadn't been nearly enough time between the July report and now - just two months - for more improvement. White House press secretary Tony Snow said in a statement accompanying the report that there have been other, equally important developments, including passage of a budget, the sharing of oil revenues among the provinces even without legislation and local reconciliation efforts that could trickle up to Baghdad.

"These are precisely the 'effects' the benchmarks were intended to produce, even if the formal benchmarks themselves have not been met," Snow said.

In a separate report, the State Department concluded Friday that religious freedom has sharply deteriorated in Iraq over the past year.

In the president's 18-minute address Thursday, he said 2,200 Marines will come home from Anbar province this month, an Army brigade of about 3,500 will begin leaving soon for a total of 5,700 troops home by Christmas.

All of these troops were due to come home anyway, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante, but they are not being replaced.

Five more combat brigades plus support troops will be home by June for a total of at least 27,000. That will leave about 130,000 troops in Iraq, roughly the same number that were there when the surge began.

Democrats termed Mr. Bush's modest approach unacceptable.

"There is no plan 'to win,' " said Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del, a Democratic presidential candidate and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. "No plan how to leave. No plan how to end this. It's just a plan to keep ... all the venom from spilling out over the region, and we're using somewhere between 160,000 to 130,000 troops to do that. The bottom line of it is that we are no safer."

Friday's report said: "What is important is the overall trajectory which, under our present strategy, has begun to stabilize and turn upward, compared to the deteriorating trajectory seen over the course of 2006."

Democrats, still unable to muster enough votes to force an end to the war, hope to win veto-proof support for some sort of anti-war legislation. Debate is expected to resume next week in the Senate. One proposal is expected to narrow the mission, for a presumably smaller U.S. force, to only training Iraq's military and police, protecting U.S. assets and fighting terrorists. Another would require troops spend as much time at home as they do in combat.

"Democrats know that they do not at this point have the votes in the Senate to force the president to go faster," said CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer.

Mr. Bush said in Thursday night's speech that the U.S. engagement will stretch beyond his presidency. But he hinted further reductions were possible before he leaves office.

He said his decisions would be guided by the principle of "return on success" - the rhetorical replacement for his oft-repeated condition that coalition forces would only "stand down" as Iraqi troops "stand up."

[mcvet]

How can it be said we''re having success when there is none. I guess a few of the hard line Fascist who support Bush would rather talk about how the Good General was treated the other day than what the cost to us in Troops and Treasury is going to be in this Quagmire. But those who vote that way are asking for a nation that is nothing but a shell of itself. Anyone who wants to LIE to America to keep it in a War that never had to be, isn''t anything but a criminal... PERIOD!! The ONE lie last night that REALLY got me going was the one about the 36 nations there fighting with us. Course Bush didn''t actually SAY they were right there with us huh Swastika Huggers! Isn''t it time they started caring more about this nation than their party? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[whispyseas]

'' ... most folk most time dance get well feed world songs and hike naked dance dressed get sick tax world songs rallied round tens millions sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups, i though do not, i dance real thing get sick tax world songs rallied round well beds racing the farm trails, i wage war, and war rapes babies, but it''s not my fault, the enemy made me do it, i''m going to hell with them, and you may join us, vote for me and we''ll invest all our money and our votes in non charity and taxation forever more ... ''

'' ... there''s trillions little molecules and microbes and other dragons all about, and they comprise quite the energy spectacle, plugging in wedges and pulleys and screws and levets: they become a spectacle exponential ... ''

'' ... we can feed the world by giving 20 or ten thousand businesses to each, so all earn minimum wage, or we can just give all minimum wage and make that the maximum wage ... ''

'' ... if i alone spend 300 weeks building 300 little online museums, and / or spend 300 weeks with 300 folk building 300 gigantic museums or 90,000 little ones ... ''

''... eternitys full of folk what feed worlds, so whys ours so full of the hungry, i haven''t solved the riddle yet, but i''ve not given up on eternity ... ''

[bigsk8fan]

Our President has again proven himself to be so morally and ethically challenged. Still no legitimate justification for war in Iraq. May his soul burn in hell for what he has done to the USA and the world.

[bareemperor]

The only success the US can claim is being compared to Nazi Germany. On that stage, we are succeeding. Bu$hCo cannot care less about Iraq becoming a democracy, that was early propaganda, and the song has now changed.
Our president is the poster boy for the forces who planned and carried out the coup of 9/11. Americans cannot stop the AmeriCONs.

[v_1618]

THE PRESIDENT SPEECH SEEMS LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE...THERE''S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADOLF HITLER AND BUSH ... THEY''RE THE SAME. THE UNITED STATES IS PUSHING THE WORLD IN A MAYOR WORLD WAR 3 CONFLICT..
IRAN AND ALQAEDA ARE STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES FEED THE ENEMIE AND NOW HAS TO RUN FROM THE MONSTER THE U.S. CREATED ...THE U.S. INVASION MADE ALQAEDA AND IRAN AND MADE THEM MORE STRONGER AND THE U.S. ARE CREATING NEW ENEMIES TO THE UNITED STATES ... BUSH IS DISCONNECTED FROM IRAQ..

[perception5]

Rasmussen poll:

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans favor the recommendation made by General David Petraeus to withdraw 30,000 soldiers from Iraq but leave 130,000 troops in place at least through the summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 38% are opposed and 19% are not sure.

And so the American people have spoken as to the surge. Now our President will make it so ...........despite so of the most corrupt left-wing attempts by America''s news media to push their lies and propaganda in support of their fellow liberal pals, the Democrats.

The stunt pulled by the far left-wing hate group MoveOn.org and the ultra liberal corrupt NYTimes to smear the US General on the ground this past Monday.

Today our liberal political/news organizations represent posion in the blood stream of this great nation..................and that''s a FACT

[missingamerica]

And a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 45% of American voters expect a positive report while 24% expect the opposite. Thirty-one percent (31%) are not sure.

However, just 39% believe the report will honestly and accurately reflect the General%u2019s true assessment of the situation in Iraq. Thirty-five percent (35%) say it will not while 26% are not sure.

[kissamaarse]

In other words Bush lied yet again. Like the Princess and the Pea, thinking Americans can still feel the original lies told justifying Bush''s invasion and occupation of Iraq no matter how many lies are piled atop. More Americans have now died in Bush''s war of choice than were killed by Osama Bin Laden''s thugs on 9/11. Is Bin Laden laughing? He certainly has his freedom.

[brianbwb-2009]

Bush lied about WMDs, this is fact.

The "war" and the subsequent occupation of Iraq was started based on these lies, this is also fact.

The "war" continues because Bush is not being held accountable for his lies, this is fact.

Our soldiers, our children, our parents, and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis are dying because of the lies, this is fact.

He and his followers ignore the deaths for the sake of their agenda, this is fact.

In the face of the above facts, we are told to believe that Bush is concerned about "freeing" the people of Iraq.

[marcodele]

One thing about Bush that has always impressed me was his persistence. He would persistently cling to a failed foreign policy than to ever admit a mistake.
He is persistently arrogant in that he thinks he can actually assign X number of years of war in Iraq to the next president. He is persistent that if we continue to fail in Iraq, we will continue to sacrifice our troops to that country''s civil war.
I hope Americans learn a lesson from this mess. Our President has been the greatest recruiter of new terrorists in history.

[aldee41]

Bush lied. Bush lies. Bush can not stop lying.
The next President will be a Democrat.
Chose wisely. Chose Richardson.

[marcodele]

Dear Perception5: 43% is neither a mandate nor a majority, no matter how many times Fox News and Rush Limbaugh tell you so.

[micma-2009]

Another day and more Bu$h/Republican failure.

[actornaught]

More Rasmussen quotes:

"20% of voters name Hillary Clinton as the one they%u2019d trust most to handle the situation in Iraq." This is more than any other candidate.

"39% of Americans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning."

"The General%u2019s report comes at a time when 33% of American adults believe the situation in Iraq has gotten better over the past six months."

Curious number there. However, referring to http://www.icasualties.org/oif/US_chart.aspx

You can''t find american casualties of any 5-month period of w''s war that excedes ANY 5 months of this year. That 33% indicates a lie has been pushed off onto the public.

[drummer94]

Who else but the little wanna-be Napoleon could talk for 18 minutes and say nothing? Shrub is such an embarassment to my nation. My tv got smacked 7 times with my rubber brick last night. The worst part? The 24%ers left, think he''s doing a bang-up job. Sheesh!

[seven-pesos]

southerners are looking for another prez like george bush, jr.

the south is mighty proud of all the christian work and leadership bush has provided.

hooray for bush, stars & bars and jefferson davis.

[pepperp1]

Yes we all believe Bush lies, is very untalented and is a man void of a moral ethical center, and has done great harm to America and Iraq.



Exactly why he showed up and lied to your face again last night, a distraction a switch and bait political tactic.

Call and write your Senator tell them you KNOW they have the POWER to change this MISSION to stop obstructing change and vote with America and the Democrats.

We can not be distracted, the issue is simple, 18 Republicans Senators are required to vote with the Democrats and the American People to change the Mission.


Call your Senator and Representative demand a change in mission for our troops that all but Petraeus and Bush have called for. Choose life for our soldiers.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House


The Republican Party Lobbyist and pundits are claiming Bush won that he scored a victory in the political game for the party to kick the can down the road and Stay the Course handing Iraq off to the next President and not doing the hard work to disentangle our troops admitting error and claiming our blood and tresury to be a small sacrifices for their continuing this blunder.

You tell them there is something fundamentally amiss rancid at the core of a GOP that values a Course that harms America.

[j-whitman]

The Full Spin Is On --- Bush is lying through his teath

[whispyseas]

'' ... i scream at theim: i dare you to stay off drugs, and i scream at them: i dare you not to feed the world, and i scream at them: i shock and awe you to stay off terror, and i scream at them: i shock and awe you not to feed the world ... and i''ve raped and slaved and tortured and taxed and killed more than all the kings and pharoahs and generals ever ... and i did it all with some popular slogans ... they''re all innocent: my *** slogans did it ... i''m sorry ... ''

'' ... why''re the trillion dollar super sheros always innocent and the two dollar savages and war lords are always guilty ... ''

'' ... the world is full of savages and war lords that will make you behave or else, now behave or else! ... ''

[j-whitman]

Even Guiliani is spinning hard, Totally lied about Hilliary''''s Petreaus comments & Move On''''s add.

[drummer94]

It was great when shrub was talkng about the success in Anbar, when he knew full well of the shiek who got blown to smithereens just 12 hrs. earlier. Yup, "success" (measured in blood-theirs and, more importantly-ours). He just CAN''T be this stupid, can he?

[bizzzz-2009]

I don''t understand the logic of the Hollywood liberal community, particularly the gay and lesbian community as well as the Jewish community''s position on NOT the War On Terror. Instead, lets call it THE WAR ON RADICAL ISLAM. Forget about the fact that Ahmadinejad has called on movement for global Islamic rule.
Recently,placards in Europe bore slogans like; "Europe is the cancer Islam is the answer", "Europe you will come crawling when the mujahadeen come roaring" and "butcher those who insult Islam". And were reported to have been shouting slogans like "UK you will pay! 7/7''s on its way!" "Bomb bomb UK! Bomb bomb USA!" And "Democracy hypocrisy!"
ROSIE, THERE IS NO GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY WITHIN AN ISLAMIC STATE- THEY"RE ALL DEAD OR IN PRISON!
As for my Jewish Hollywood community, do you want the US to protect Israel or don''t you give a d@mn? We are sitting at the doorstep of a government who has officially called for the anihilation of Israel and denied the Holocaust. You want to withdrawl from this goverment''s backyard.
If we do leave Iraq and lose our tactical advantage and Iran attacks Israel. And there is an outcry by the Hollywood Jewish community to assist Israel, I say $crew you, we were already there and you told us to go home.

[j-whitman]

bizzzz,,,, Get off the zionist BS --- Isreal can defend itself,,,, Iran isn''t going to attack Isreal.

[j-whitman]

bizzzz,,,, Please explain what tactical advantage we have in Iraq ??? ------ It doesn''t exist

[alphaa10-2009]

perception5 said, "Today our liberal political/news organizations represent posion in the blood stream of this great nation..................and that''''s a FACT"
---
Actually, that''s a misspelling, as well as a misperception, perception5. Do you believe the opinion of most Americans about Bush and his Iraq debacle is "poison"? The major polls-- AP, Gallup, CNN etc.-- consistently have shown long-term and profound disapproval of Bush and Iraq. Gen. Petraeus, himself, wrote an upbeat editorial for Bush back in 2004, just in time for the election. And yes, Petraeus was just as sure in 2004 that victory beckoned, if only we stayed the course.

Even Bush gives al-Maliki no respect. Meanwhile, Iraq, itself-- in part, thanks to tons of American arms aid to al-Maliki our DOD cannot account for, and clandestine aid to Sunni groups from Uncle *** Cheney-- is poised for a real shooting war. That clearly suggests a political breakdown and probable partitioning for Iraq.

So, that leaves only most Americans NOT behind Bush and his stonewalling about Iraq. Bush stonewalling is all about ten US superbases and a billion-dollar embassy in Baghdad, these required so American oil companies can go ahead with their plan to suck Iraq dry of its oil. Meanwhile, 2 of 3 Iraqis oppose any move to sanction the American oil theft, despite feverish Bush efforts to twist arms in the Iraq government to approve the oil plan, as one "benchmark" of American aid.

[starleo146]

Did any one pick up on the statement We will be there a long time after I am gone this is why there is no exit plan never was a plan. The plan was to stay and put up bases in Iraq and who knows where else in the middle east. Does anyone feel the wonder at what is going on in our government? Why are they continuing to cover up what is going on ? Are they afraid we would be horrified about it all? I think they would be right

[micma-2009]

bizzzz


You should drop the bi and call yourself zzzzzzzzzzzzz or yawnnnnnn.

[bizzzz-2009]

J-whitman,
You are someone who is quick to respond, but like most liberals, absolutely no substance whatsoever. Your response didnt contain one fact, while I took time and googled some facts before I posted.
First of all, I can respond to both your comments in one word "GEOGRAPHY" Have you ever looked at a map of the middle East? Secondly, although my current occupation involves California real estate, I was a 2311 (ammunitions and explosive ordinance) for the Marine Corp for several years. I was in the 1st Persian Gulf War. Unlike you, that makes me an expert on tactics.
For Israel to fly jets all the way to Iran would be very very very dificult. Believe me, even if they tried to defend themselves, at the very least it would be difficult, Syria would become involved and Israel would be fighting a two front war. They might win, but they would be severely pounded and they know it. I wouldn;t put too much trust in Olmert goverment. He''s weak and unpopular.
Believe it or not, the US beinjg in Iraq is a tactical advantage to strike Iran for OBVIOUS reasons. Massive troops and equipment are stationed there, Jets can be fueled easily, strikes can be can be carried out quickly, short range rockets can be utilized.
I MUST SAY, YOUR NOT VERY SMART.

[whispyseas]

'' ... some throw rocks at vacant buildings and some throw them at the earth from somewhere in the asteroid belt, some throw people at vacant buildings and some throw really big rocks from somewhere in the asteroid belt ... ''

'' ... little radio and light waves and such and little pro-amps and anti-amps and little machine programs and such are so so, little babies and small children and little ol ladies and little ol men all rallied round tens millions sick beds questing for cure for common deaths are eternal ... ''

[bizzzz-2009]

Only name calling?" How boring. It''s too bad my last name is Petreous. Oh yea, that''s been done already. I need to get back to work. I''m debating with children.

[space_poet]

Eww, I like the new look, I just wish they''d boot lars & seven-peso, then this might start actually being a legit forum. Spamming the board w/ propaganda is not rational discussion and should be reported as abuse anytime they do it.

Everyone else, keep doing what you''re doing, I see both sides here, and sure you guys seem to step over the line more than on occasion, but no one is silencing you here.

And to finish off, screw you, Bush, you never had any intention of doing this the right way, ever, and now here we are, almost 4 and a half years later, still trying to play policeman half way across the world, all the while *** us at home, with none of the benefits you promised, everyone a he11 of a lot more in danger, more than half the world angry at us, our dollar tanking, stock market stagnant for 6 years, lost liberties and freedoms, countless dead, countless wounded. Your legacy of death and deceit will follow you the rest of your days...

[j-whitman]

bizzzz,,, Isreal can strike Iran anytime they want, they have the missiles & nuclear weapons & one of the strongest military''s in the region --- I don''t knock you service but your logic on tactics is way out of wack....
.. Admrial Folley says we will not attack Iran, he even delaiyed the 3rd battle group from arriving in the Persian Gulf untill the 2nd one was leaving..
... Again What Tactical Advantage do we have ?? -- We don''t even have the troops in Iraq to sustain the little progress we have,,, The Surge has only given sketchy security in some areas, & mostly by isolating Sunni''s from Sheiits..... The 36 countries in the Coalition only is 31 countries is mostly non-combatent & adds up to only 7%, of our own forces.

[boldwin223]

Some one ask Yahoo "How does George Bush sleep at night?"

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

If his buddies are making lots of money because of his decisions, and he had a good day playing with his "toys" OUR AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, he''s probably sleeping okay. But, if a Democrat said anything "mean" about him, I''m sure that Laura would have to read him a bedtime story first (with the book right-side up).

[brianp55]

The US and Congress has assigned a completely synthetic and unreasonable set of expectations to the Iraqi government, based upon what is convenient for us. The Iraqis have no experience operating within a democratic environment AND you have two or three large factions that at best don''t trust one another. This is going to be a very slow process riddled with false starts and many, many mistakes. In some respects, I find it amazing that they were able to draft a constitution and form a government (more or less) within the brief period of time that they were given. Lay off the Iraqis.

[seven-pesos]

whenever i travel in the south i usually carry some snacks along.

if i happen to be taking a dump and a **** reaches under the stall

i always drop a sausage in his hand.

you always hear ''em say: " oh gawd, oh gawd, oh gawd!"...

which leads me to believe i''ve made another republican christian happy.

ha,ha,ha.

that''s the south for you, folks!

[seven-pesos]

you won''t find america''s enemies in the middle east...

you''ll find them in the southern states of america.

war making, bible thumping, flag waving, phony christian, republican snake southerners...

bush''s kind of people.

war, hate, arrogance, division, evangelist creeps...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[boldwin223]

bizzzz... You make it sound like Bush invaded Iraq so he could invade Iran. Is this what you think?

[gretagreen]

I''m discouraged and angry. Bush will veto any reasonable bill that Congress might send to him related to getting the troops home and I don''t think we will EVER have the 2/3 votes necessary in the House and Senate to override his veto. I can''t think of anything I can do other than pray.

[boldwin223]

seven-pesos are you one of those California nuts we hear so much about?

[condumism]

Definition of a FASCIST, ie: a US Republicon:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4. Supremacy of the Military
5. Rampant Sexism
6. Controlled Mass Media
7. Obsession with National Security
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
9. Corporate Power is Protected
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14. Fraudulent Elections
15. Vigorous DENIAL of all of the above!

[brain1014]

Wow, this looks pretty cool. Must have been President Bush, great job. As for our Presidents speech last night, I think he did an exellent job explaining his reasons for troop reductions as well as maintaining a certain level of troop deployment in the region. Iran is becoming more and more aggressive with thier insurgence and I sense a spanking in the making! What you lefty''s don''t understand is the fact that we need someone who will be able to handle that situation when it arrives. There is no way hillary or obama could command a war of that magnitude because they would need to ask permission from the rest of the lefties before they would make any decisions! Our commander and cheif is the right man for the job at hand and will go down in history as the one who saved democracy and defended freedom. Point the finger and play the blame game if you want but remember one thing, our country has been in a much safer state since our President asserted his authority. As for his promises during his Presidential campaign I do not hold him to those because things took a drastic turn on 9/11! OUR PRESIDENT DOES NOT NEED A PERMISION SLIP FROM CONGRESS TO DO HIS JOB!!!!!!!!!!!

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL

[name_verify]

VICTORY IS AMERICAS ONLY CHOICE

THANK YOU GENERAL