NPR interview with National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, July 13, 2007:
Q I'd like to begin, if I could, with the benchmarks that the President discussed yesterday; the assertion that there has been some progress made on eight of those 18 benchmarks. A number of respected analysts, including former members of the military, have looked at that, and said, they're not so sure about that; they question whether any progress has been made on any of the benchmarks. What do you say to that?
MR. HADLEY: Well, what we've published yesterday is a 23-page report that goes through, in great detail, each of the benchmarks. And what it says, it's not a sort of one-sentence conclusion. It, on each of the benchmarks, indicates what progress we see and what progress remains. On balance, some of it seems to be satisfactory progress, some of them seems to be not. I think it's all there. It was pulled together with participation from not only people in Washington, but also our commanders, ambassadors in the field.
Washington Post, August 30, 2007:
Iraq has failed to meet all but three of 18 congressionally mandated benchmarks for political and military progress, according to a draft of a Government Accountability Office report. The document questions whether some aspects of a more positive assessment by the White House last month adequately reflected the range of views the GAO found within the administration.
[T]he GAO draft says that three of the benchmarks have been met while 13 have not. Despite its strict mandate, the GAO draft concludes that two benchmarks -- the formation of governmental regions and the allocation and expenditure of $10 billion for reconstruction -- have been "partially met."
Early July: "[A]ssertion that there has been some progress made on eight of those 18 benchmarks."
Late August: "[T]hree of the benchmarks have been met while 13 have not.... [T]wo benchmarks ... have been 'partially met.'"
Total number of benchmarks showing progress: Negative three.
Judgment of Brian Baird (D-WA): "I think we're making strides."