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Dems Seize on Ugly Iraq Report

GAO says 11 of 18 benchmarks unmet; majority prepares to push Bush

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2007 5:10 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Harry Reid and the majority Democrats burst out of the vacation gates today with a damning Iraq scorecard, beating the policy-change drum a day after President Bush cited improvement while visiting Iraq, and ahead of Gen. David Petraeus’ supposedly positive surge report. The GAO report concluded Iraq had failed to meet 11 of 18 benchmarks, the New York Times reports, with virtually no political progress.

John Kerry called the analysis “a failing grade,” as Democrats kicked off a week of Iraq hearings. Among the shortcomings the GAO identified were continued militia control of local security, political intervention in the military, and unbalanced law enforcement. Reid set out to put Bush on the defensive: “September is the month for policy change in Iraq.”

Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker, right, prepares to shake hands with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, prior to testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to deliver the GAO's on performance of the Iraqi government. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb....
Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker, right, prepares to shake hands with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, prior to testifying...   (Associated Press)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., pauses as he speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, after breakfast with President Bush. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., pauses as he speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, after breakfast with President Bush. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by CBS, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seen after appearing on CBS's Face the Nation in Washington, Sunday, July 22, 2007. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
In this photo provided by CBS, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seen after appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation" in Washington, Sunday, July 22, 2007. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin...   (Associated Press)
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