Progress in Iraq, but it's tenuous, U.S. audits find [LATimes]

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 23, 2008 | By JULIAN E. BARNES

[johnny7]

The GAO and Pentagon cited less violence but also Iraqi forces unprepared to go it alone.

WASHINGTON - Two new government reports, one by the Pentagon, pointed Monday to encouraging security improvements in Iraq but were pessimistic about prospects for political and economic progress and warned that costly military gains remain fragile.

One report, by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, concluded that many political reconciliation efforts have stalled, that Iraq's security forces remain largely unable to operate without U.S. assistance and that its central government has not fulfilled commitments to spend its own money on reconstruction efforts. As a result, a new U.S. strategy for attaining military, political and economic goals is needed, the GAO said.

[johnny7]

One report, by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, concluded that many political reconciliation efforts have stalled, that Iraq's security forces remain largely unable to operate without U.S. assistance and that its central government has not fulfilled commitments to spend its own money on reconstruction efforts. As a result, a new U.S. strategy for attaining military, political and economic goals is needed, the GAO said.

Yeah... throw away a winning strategy... FOR WHAT?!