U.S. Report Gives Mixed Assessment On Iraq Progress

A U.S. helicopter flying over Baghdad's Green Zone (file photo) (AFP) July 12, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- A White House report released today gives a mixed assessment of progress made by the Iraqi government on meeting political and security goals set by the United States.

The report finds that the Iraqi government has achieved satisfactory progress on eight of the 18 benchmarks, unsatisfactory progress on another eight and mixed results on the remaining two.

The report notes progress in reducing violence and increased security. But it says the Iraqi government has not achieved major goals considered necessary to reducing sectarian violence, such as passing legislation to divide Iraq's oil revenues.

The report is an interim assessment of President George W. Bush's strategy to send extra troops to Iraq.

The top U.S. military general in Iraq, David Petraeus, is expected in September to give a full report on the success of Bush's strategy.

(with material from AP, AFP)