The Iraqi government has made little progress in meeting key political and military targets set by the United States, 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. Among the failures, it cites militia control over security forces and not enacting laws on sharing oil resources.
Click here to read the benchmark assessment report (pdf)
Matthew Bell on the Iraqi struggle to meet U.S. benchmarks (Sep 14)
The report follows President Bush's televised address (Sep 13), in which he announced a limited withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Mr Bush said 5,700 personnel would be home by Christmas, and expected thousands more to return by July 2008. The President said he had accepted the advice of the U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, who gave a progress report to Congress earlier this week. (see below)
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.
On Sep 13 a key Sunni ally of the U.S. was killed in a bomb attack in the city of Ramadi. Abdul Sattar Abu Risha led what was known as the "Anbar Awakening", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that rose up against al-Qaeda in Iraq. Only ten days ago, Abu Risha had met President Bush, during Mr. Bush's visit to Iraq.
Read more about Abu Risha
The Congressional Hearings
Gen. Petraeus
On the second day of the congressional hearing (Sep 11) Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Barack Obama (D-IL) told military commander David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker the troop build-up had failed to achieve peace in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker repeated their contention that the military "surge" in Iraq was working, and warned against a rapid withdrawal.
The World's Katy Clark reports on Tuesday's testimony
On Sep 10 General Petraeus said the military objectives of the U.S. troop surge in Iraq "are largely being met". A record 168,000 U.S. troops are now in Iraq after the reinforcements arrived between February and June. The Congressional hearings come as a new opinion poll suggested about 70% of Iraqis believe security has deteriorated in the area covered by the surge.
The World's Matthew Bell reports on Monday's testimony
More information on the Iraq poll
Click here to join one of our online discussions about the war in Iraq
Jones Report
September 6th
Iraq's security forces are not capable of taking over from U.S. troops within the next 18 months, says a new report by General James Jones (USMC-ret.) The study finds that Iraq's national police force was ineffective and so rife with sectarianism it should be scrapped.
The Iraqi military showed signs of progress but would not be able to work independently for some time, the report said. The Jones report is the latest in a series to be considered by Congress as it debates the Iraq war.
Click here to download the Jones report at CSIS.org
The World's Matthew Bell reports on the Jones report (Sep 6)
Also last week, a report by a non-partisan Congressional watchdog found the Iraqi government was "dysfunctional" and had failed to meet 11 of 18 benchmarks set by the United States.
Read the full GAO report (pdf)
Heard on The World:
During his surprise visit to Iraq on Labor Day, President Bush said the U.S. may be able to manage with fewer troops in Iraq if the current successes continue. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with John Arquilla, a professor at the Naval War College in Monterey, California, about the strategies that are working for U.S. troops in Iraq.
Listen to the interview
GAO report
August 30th
Iraq's ability to build up its own security forces is still not improving. So says a draft report from the Government Accountability Office obtained by The Washington Post. Lisa Mullins speaks with Washington Post Senior Pentagon Correspondent Tom Ricks about the report's findings which concluded that Iraq hasn't met most of the benchmarks set by the US Congress.
Listen to the interview
Significant dates and hearings:
September 6th, 2007
Senate Armed Services Committee held an open hearing on Marine General James Jones report on training and capabilities of the Iraqi security forces. General Jones was asked to head up the "Iraqi Security Forces Independent Assessment Commission" earlier this year.
BBC story on findings of Jones commission
Download the entire report at CSIS.org
Defense Dept biography of Gen. Jones
September 10th, 2007
Joint House Armed Services/Foreign Affairs Committees held an open hearing with U.S. Armed Forces Commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on their report assessing the situation in Iraq
Â
September 11th, 2007Â
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee held open hearings with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker on their report on Iraq. Â
September 13th, 2007
TV address by President Bush to the nation.
From The White House: Renewal in Iraq
Press release from House Speaker Pelosi on scheduled hearings
BBC summary of recent reports on Iraq to the Congress
