Iraq Progress Update: 15 of 18 Benchmarks "Satisfactory"

A new White House assessment to Congress declared that Iraq's had fulfilled 15 of 18 benchmarks in "satisfactory" fashion. Amazingly, this is almost twice of what it was in an assessment a year ago. This May 2008 report card, determines that only two of the benchmarks are unsatisfactory. Those two are the enactment and implementation of laws that disarm militias and distribute oil revenues. The progress includes important laws that Baghdad has passed. Critical legislation that helps ease tensions indluded the granting of amnesty to some prisoners as well as permitting former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party to recover lost jobs or pensions. They also decided that provincial elections would be held before Oct. 1. Furthermore, law enforcement has "demonstrated its willingness and effectiveness to use these authorities to pursue extremists in all provinces, regardless of population or extremist demographics." I hope and pray that especially if Barack Obama wins the situation on the ground in Iraq itself is ready for the withdrawal that will follow. Because if that is not the case, the Middle East is in for a load of trouble and tragedy.


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