Petraeus: Iraqi Leaders Not Making 'Sufficient Progress'

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

Iraqi leaders have failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political differences, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Thursday.

Petraeus, who is preparing to testify to Congress next month on the Iraq war, said in an interview that "no one" in the U.S. and Iraqi governments "feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation," or in the provision of basic public services.

The general's comments appeared to be his sternest to date on Iraqis' failure to achieve political reconciliation. In February, following the passage of laws on the budget, provincial elections and an amnesty for certain detainees, Petraeus was more encouraging. "The passage of the three laws today showed that the Iraqi leaders are now taking advantage of the opportunity that coalition and Iraqi troopers fought so hard to provide," he said at the time.

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Petraeus said he and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker had "repeatedly noted that it's crucial that the Iraqis exploit the opportunities that we and our Iraqi counterparts have fought so hard to provide them."



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031303793.html?hpid=topnews

[grytpype]

1. How long are we supposed to spend $15 billion and thirty lives a month for those people?

[durablend]

13. Another hundred years according to McLame

Or was it a thousand years? I forget...

[brooklynite]

2. "nobody could have anticipated"....

...that the Iraqi Government wouldn't take advantage of the improved security situation caused by the Surge, right?

[badgervan]

3. Petraeus is Doing.....

.... a little "pre CYA" before his upcoming performance.

[kimmylavin]

4. Hmmm...

Wasn't this the exact reason for the manly surge?

[freethought]

5. Really now. Does this truly surprise anyone? n/t

[Dark]

6. Well duh.

OF course, Bush knows this is going to blow up. But he's scapegoating the Iraqi govt.

[Kolesar]

7. A reporter has GOT TO ask John McCain about this on the campaign trail

As in, "General Petraeus just said the time we bought with the surge has yielded nothing"

"What should President Bush do?"

[maddezmom]

8. Iraqi leaders short on progress, US general says: report

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2008 (AFP) - Iraqi leaders have failed to make enough progress in settling their political differences despite a drop in violence, the top US commander in Iraq said in an interview published Friday.

General David Petraeus, set to testify on the Iraq war to the US Congress next month, told the Washington Post "no one" in the US and Iraqi governments "feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation," or in the provision of basic public services.

Petraeus returned to Iraq a year ago to preside over a counterinsurgency strategy, bolstered by a "surge" of some 30,000 additional US troops. The strategy was meant to curb violence so Iraqi leaders could pass laws and take other measures to ease sectarian and political tensions.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks in Baghdad since February after a lull in violence since the middle of last year.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080314/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqmilitarypolitics_080314130245

[goodgd_yall]

16. Do you suppose next month's report to Congress

will get as much attention from the press and TV if the report is not as rosy as the last one? It being election year and all, it wouldn't look good for McCain.

[Stuart G]

9. Guess what...Petraeus is not making "sufficient progress.." ..

Let us progress him and all the troops home.........

[Roland99]

10. But I bet they're about to turn a corner!!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. There WOULD have been progress, but ...

these lily-livered, chicken-hearted, yellow-bellied Democrat turncoat presidential candidates have encouraged our enemies.

Open your umbrellas, the blame is heading our way.
:hi:

[Amonester]

12. Betrayus blaming the victims for the $urge's failure. - eom

[goodgd_yall]

14. Finally

The top guy sees it. I hope this is being reported sufficiently by the MSM.

[Supersedeas]

15. so the Surge has not led to political benchmarks, but still calling it a success??