Remember those political benchmarks the Iraqi government did not meet? Bush Administration officials were suppose to rethink their ambitions to account for the lack of political progress. But now even the Obama Administration wants to take credit for Iraq. The Times should update its reports…
When Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker first reported on the results of the surge in Sept. 2007, top congressional figures were quick to point out that the Iraqi government had satisfied only three of the 18 benchmarks set up as barometers for progress.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), made that point while speaking on the Senate floor, when he declared the “Bush-Petraeus plan” a failure.
“Strengthening the central government is not happening,” said at the time. “As the surge and number of troops goes up, the strength of the central government goes down. That equation says failure in the Bush-Petraeus surge. The goal is not a military goal. In the president’s own words, it is to give the government of Iraq greater stability, greater breathing room — and that government, by just about every standard, is worse off than before.”
But just a year later 15 of the 18 benchmarks set up to measure the Iraqi government’s progress had been satisfied. A critical turning point was reached in February 2008 when the central government passed three pieces of legislation simultaneously: the Provisional Powers Law, the Amnesty Law and a national budget.
The New York Times should update its reporting to show that the Iraqi government is beginning stand up. While political progress has been uneven, it is not non-existent.
A very pessimistic report filed in June 2007 strongly implied that American ambitions were beyond reach.
“Iraq’s political limitations raise difficult questions for the American project here,” the report declared. “The initial mission for the increase of American troops was to create an atmosphere for political reconciliation. If broad-based compromises among the country’s factions fail to emerge or have little impact, what comes next?
Iraq remains challenging and complex by any reasonable yardstick. But, at the same time, Iraqis are experiencing greater political autonomy than at any time in recent history.
Why not make a call to Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), who is possibly the next majority leader, to inquire about Iraqi politics? What are the ramifications of a nascent democracy in the heart of the Arab World and how does relate to Iran?
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