U.S. Government Watchdog Sees Scant Progress In Iraq
September 4, 2007 -- The independent U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report today saying "violence remains high" in Iraq.
The report said there has been little political progress and results on security are mixed despite President George W. Bush's troop surge this year.
The Accountability Office said Iraq has failed to meet 11 of 18 political and military goals set by the Congress, such as reducing sectarian violence and passing laws on oil revenue sharing. It said Iraq met three benchmarks and partially met another four.
The report comes just days before the release of a long-awaited report on progress in Iraq. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker are slated to testify before the U.S. Congress on whether Bush’s troop surge has succeeded in stabilizing Iraq.
Their assessment, as well as a progress report that the White House must deliver to Congress by September 15, is likely to help determine the next phase of the war.
(Reuters)