A look at recent studies on the Iraq war

 

By The Associated Press 23 minutes ago

Findings and recommendations by recent studies on the Iraq war:

The Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, chaired by retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, released Sept. 6:

_Iraq's security forces will be unable to assume control of the country without U.S. help in the next 12 to 18 months.

_Reduction of U.S. forces and handing off combat mission to Iraqis is "possible and prudent," and changes could begin in early 2008.

_The national police force is rife with corruption and infiltrated by militia forces and should be disbanded.

_An adequate logistics system to support the Iraqi army is at least two years away.

_On the Web: http://www.csis.org

The Government Accountability Office progress report on Iraq, released Sept. 4:

_Of its 18 stated political and security goals, Iraq failed to meet 11 of them with the least progress made on the political front.

_Iraq fully met three of the 18 goals: establishing joint security stations in Baghdad, ensuring minority rights in the Iraqi legislature and creating support committees for the Baghdad security plan.

_Violence remains high, and it is unclear whether sectarian-fueled attacks has decreased because it is too difficult to prove intent.

_The number of Iraqi security forces capable of conducting independent operations has declined, and militias remain armed.

_On the Web: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071195.pdf

White House progress report on Iraq, dated July 12:

_Of its 18 stated political and security goals, Iraq has made satisfactory progress on eight of them, including eliminating safe havens for outlaws and deploying three trained brigades to Baghdad.

_Judges Iraq has made unsatisfactory progress on nine benchmarks, including increasing the number of Iraqi security forces able to operate independently and passing major legislation believed critical to calming sectarian feuds.

_Judges that it is too early to judge Iraq's progress on two benchmarks: enacting amnesty legislation and establishing a program to disarm militias.

_On the Web: http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/iraq/2007/FinalBenchmarkReport.pdf

The National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, released Aug. 23:

_Represented the most authoritative written judgments of all 16 spy agencies, with the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency as key contributors.

_Determined that the Iraqi government is strained by rampant violence, deep sectarian differences among its political parties and stymied leadership.

_Found Iraq's neighbors will continue to try to expand their leverage in the fractured state in anticipation that the U.S. will soon leave.

_Noted some security progress but elusive hopes for reconciliation among Iraq's feuding groups.

 

AFP/File Photo: US soldiers from 1-501 Para-Infantry Regiment hold their weapons above their heads as they wade...

 

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