WASHINGTON - Iraq has fallen short in all but three of 18 benchmarks set by the US Congress for political and military progress, according to a draft government report cited Thursday by US news media.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report delivers a bleak assessment of US-led military efforts to secure Baghdad, saying it is unclear whether a troop "surge" in the Iraqi capital has helped the situation at all, the Washington Post said.
In addition, political deadlock in Iraq has stalled reconstruction efforts and failed to advance necessary legislation, the Post said, citing a draft copy of the report which is to be officially delivered to Congress next Tuesday.
"Key legislation has not been passed, violence remains high, and it is unclear whether the Iraqi government will spend 10 billion in reconstruction funds" as promised, the Post said, quoting the report.
Attacks on civilians have not ebbed and the Iraqi security forces have grown no more competent, the draft said.
"While the Baghdad security plan was intended to reduce sectarian violence, US agencies differ on whether such violence has been reduced," it said.
"The capabilities of Iraqi security forces have not improved," it said, adding: "The average number of daily attacks against civilians remained about the same over the last six months; 25 in February versus 26 in July."
The Government Accountability Office, formerly known as the General Accounting Office, is the non-partisan auditing branch of the US Congress that oversees the performance and accountability of the US government.
Its findings are in stark contrast to an upbeat assessment expected from the White House in September along with congressional testimony from two top US officials in Iraq who are expected to tout advances in security and reconciliation.
The Post said the 69-page draft is undergoing Pentagon review and could be changed ahead of its release.
An interim July report on Iraq progress found positive developments in eight of 18 categories, but the GAO observes a stricter standard and says only three benchmarks have been met and two have been partially met.
"One of eight political benchmarks -- the protection of the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature -- has been achieved," the Post said. The other two positive points are in the security realm.
08/30/2007 11:12 GMT