They're going to get away with this: Admin removes goalposts for measuring "surge" success

[BurtWorm]

Noted by Ilan Goldberg of Democracy Arsenal (and no one else?):

http://www.democracyarsenal.org/2008/04/standing-up.html


I thought this was a pretty interesting and unnoticed story. Basically, the idea of a timeline of handing security over to the Government seems to have basically disappeared. Back in January of 2007, when President Bush announced the surge, he stated that by November of 2007 the Government of Iraq would be responsible for all 18 provinces.

By December, the Pentagon's report to Congress had shifted the goal posts to the end of 2008:

“The Coalition continues to transfer responsibility for security to the GoI. Karbala Province transitioned to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) on October 29, 2007, bringing the total number of provinces for which the Government of Iraq (GoI) has lead security responsibility to eight out of eighteen provinces. The Ministerial Committee for National Security has approved the transfer of Basrah Province to PIC in December 2007. All remaining provinces are expected to transition in 2008.”

The newest quarterly report, issued at the end of March, eliminates the goal posts altogether:

“In support of the U.S. Government strategic objective to strengthen the Iraqi forces and transition primary security responsibility to the GoI, Basrah Province transitioned to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) on December 16, 2007, bringing the total number of provinces for which the GoI has lead security responsibility to nine of 18 provinces.”

So, when is the Government of Iraq going to take responsibility?

[damntexdem]

1. They're incompetent at kicking the ball; ...

but they're experts at moving the goalposts.

[annabanana]

2. There is a FULL COURT PRESS pushing the "successful surge" lie.

All the outlets are signed onto it. No one is challenging it. It is the biggest load of shit to get shoved through the pipe since the invasion itself..