John Edwards discussed this latest Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report on Iraq War, over 2 weeks ago:
GAO Conclusions:
As of August 30, 2007, the Iraqi government met 3, partially met 4, and did NOT meet 11 of its 18 benchmarks.
[The full version of this GAO Bench Mark Table is displayed below the fold.]
GAO Conclusions: (Continuing)
The Iraqi government has not fulfilled commitments it first made in June 2006 to advance legislative, security, and economic measures that would promote national reconciliation among Iraq’s warring factions.
Of particular concern is the lack of progress on the constitutional review that could promote greater Sunni participation in the national government and comprehensive hydrocarbon legislation that would distribute Iraq’s vast oil wealth.
Despite Iraqi leaders recently signing a unity accord, the polarization of Iraq’s major sects and ethnic groups and fighting among Shi’a factions diminishes the stability of Iraq’s governing coalition and its potential to enact legislation needed for sectarian reconciliation.
Reconciliation was also premised on a reduction in violence. While the Baghdad security plan was intended to reduce sectarian violence, measuring such violence may be difficult since the perpetrator’s intent is not clearly known.
Other measures of violence, such as the number of enemy-initiated attacks, show that violence has remained high through July 2007.
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http://www.gao.gov/...
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[ Even if we were Grading on a Pass-Fail basis it's hard to see how the mess in Iraq gets a "Passing Grade". Just LOOK at all those "Missing Checkmarks" -- it looks like the "hard work" in Iraq has barely even been started ! ]
GAO Recommendations:
In preparing future reports to Congress and to help increase transparency on progress made toward achieving the benchmarks, we recommend that:
- The Secretary of State provide information to the President that clearly specifies the status in drafting, enacting, and implementing Iraqi legislation;
- The Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other appropriate agencies, provide information to the President on trends in sectarian violence with appropriate caveats, as well as broader quantitative and qualitative measures of population security, and
- The Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other appropriate agencies, provides additional information on the operational readiness of Iraqi security forces supporting the Baghdad security plan, particularly information on their loyalty and willingness to help secure Baghdad.
[ Duuhh! ]
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http://www.gao.gov/...
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For a List of those 18 IRAQ BENCHMARKS:
http://www.c-span.org/...
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Thanks to C-Span for these Iraq Links:
http://www.c-span.org/...
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We're spending all those Billions for WHAT ?
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Let's see ... most of our Army is Here in Iraq --
and our Enemy from 9/11 IS somewhere in the Mountains HERE, in northern Pakistan ... Hhmmm?
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Maybe the Administration needs to take a refresher course on "MAP READING" ???
(Of course, most likely they have been reading a DIFFERENT sort of Map all along: )
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How Long will we keep racking up massive costs on a mis-guided War? (a War that most think is NOT making our Country Safer!)
Cost of Iraq War and Nation Building
http://zfacts.com/...
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Iraq War US and Coalition Casualties
http://zfacts.com/...
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The true Cost of this Iraq War hardly registers with some in the GOP anymore:
Mr. Boehner responded: "The investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East ...
Enough of the Double Talk!
Enough is Enough!
The Cost of this War in Iraq IS NOT SMALL, by ANY Measure !!! (and especially NOT SMALL, in the cost to American Families)
CNN on Iraq War
There have been 4,075 coalition deaths ...
At least 27,848 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
http://www.cnn.com/...
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These Brave soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice, in service of their Country, have done what was asked of them.
These Brave soldiers have done their job --
When will President Bush do his ?
When will CONGRESS do theirs ?
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http://www.cnn.com/...
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It's time to STOP playing Games with so Many Lives!
It's time to STOP playing Games with the FUTURE of America, and the World!
It's time for real Political Solutions -- Stop the Sloganeering -- Stop the "Clash of Civilizations" !
NO MORE EXCUSES! NO MORE "KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" !
CONGRESS Stop THIS mis-guided War, NOW!
(It's your Constitutional Duty to Protect and DEFEND America!)