White House: Iraq failing half US benchmarks (BBC)

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 14 September 2007, 13:40 GMT 14:40 UK

Iraq failing half US benchmarks

Iraq's government has met nine out of 18 benchmarks
on governance and security, a White House report says.

The report, delivered to the US Congress, is one of
several recent assessments by the US government.

Among Iraq's failures, the report mentions militia
control over security forces and enacting a law on
sharing oil resources among communities.

On Thursday, President George W Bush said the number
of US troops would be reduced but strategy was
successful.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6994601.stm

[State the Obvious]

1. 3 out of 18? 5 out of 18? Now it is 9 out of 18?

As I recall, originally the GAO thought 3 of the benchmarks had been met. Then, after speaking to the WH, it became 5 out of 18. Last night I heard it was now 9 out of 18 (didn't listen to details). What is going on here? Will they succeed in "morphing" the numbers because no one is paying attention?

Now.....without explanation....they can say HALF the benchmarks in Iraq have been met? :banghead:

Didn't they use the same dishonest tactic using the numbers 15 and 19?
(Never wanting to reveal that 15 of the 19 (9/11) terrorists were Saudis and not Iraqis?)