Iraq government near collapse, secret report says

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Daily News

Lawmakers returning here this week got hit with more bad news about Iraq in a confidential report that says the fragile democracy is "collapsing," the Daily News has learned.

The boycott of the government by certain Shiite and Kurdish political blocs has left Iraq's leadership hanging by a thread, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.

The report by CRS, Congress' research and analysis arm, was completed Aug. 15 for the House and Senate.

"My assessment is that because of the number and breadth of parties boycotting the cabinet, the Iraqi government is in essential collapse," Kenneth Katzman, the author of the report, said. "That argues against any real prospects for political reconciliation."

Without a political infrastructure in Iraq, any military progress would be short-lived, he added.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/09/06/2007-09-06_iraq_government_near_collapse_secret_rep.html?print=1

[beberocks]

1. But the surge IS working

The surge in deaths and the surge in wasted money that is.

[tridim]

7. And we're "Kicking ass in Iraq" according to Whistle-Ass. nt

[radfringe]

11. Progress is progress

although we didn't want to see things get PROGRESSIVELY WORSE...

[Hydra]

2. This would be why we are talking about having a dictator put in

It appears our pretend democracy doesn't want to do what we tell it to. Wah.

[Baby Snooks]

6. We should have stuck with the dictator we had...

The only thing wrong with Saddam Hussein apparently was his unwillingness to hand over the oil reserves to the Bushes and their Buddies. When will Congress wake up and put an end to this?

[Javaman]

10. to paraphrase rumspuke...

you go to war with the dictator you have not the dictator you want. LOL

plus Saddam was committing the cardinal sin of wanting to switch to Euros to trade his oil. Shame shame...

but wait, didn't Japan just do the same thing but only with the Yen? When will we be bombing them?

[rodeodance]

3. The only thing propping it up is the blood of US forces ---and Iraqi (some)

[rodeodance]

4. "I would even question the military progress," he said.

The report by CRS, Congress' research and analysis arm, was completed Aug. 15 for the House and Senate.

"My assessment is that because of the number and breadth of parties boycotting the cabinet, the Iraqi government is in essential collapse," Kenneth Katzman, the author of the report, said. "That argues against any real prospects for political reconciliation."

Without a political infrastructure in Iraq, any military progress would be short-lived, he added.

Katzman, who grew up in Long Island, also challenged the success of the Baghdad Security Plan, known as the troop "surge," which President Bush claims is working.

"I would even question the military progress," he said.

Many senior State Department officials in Iraq believe a political solution to the war is now "hopeless," according to a top diplomat.

"I would agree with that," Katzman said.

The CRS analysis said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is trying to save a "collapsing government" while fending off rivals who wish to topple him.

[Oreegone]

5. Dictator?

That is what we did before. I believe his name was Saddam Hussein, that seems to have worked out well.:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[ryanus]

8. I honestly didn't think it was functioning

I thought that the US was still running things, although I do realize there is some semblance of an Iraqi government with some Iraqia in political positions. But I didn't think they were actually in charge.

[snappyturtle]

9. Boy wouldn't you love to shove this report down McCain's throat!?

....especially after his display last night in the "debate" that the surge is working!

[RamboLiberal]

12. Raw Story has the pdf of the report

http://rawstory.com/images/other/secretiraqreportrawstory.pdf

[HuffleClaw]

13. 'secret' meaning 'likely to contain truths which will expose the administrations lies'

and it only took a few weeks for us to hear about it. that is an improvement over the usual six months.