E-mail this story to a friend
Have comments? Send them to the editor.
Printer Friendly Version
Subscribe for Free!
New Iraq report: 15 of 18 benchmarks satisfactory
By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press
July 2, 2008

Page 2 of 2

Democrats also say more solid progress could have been made had the administration starting pulling troops out sooner.

"We've tried repeatedly to get the administration to shift responsibility to the Iraqi leaders for their own future, since there is broad consensus that there is no military solution and only a political settlement among the Iraqis can end the conflict," said Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"The administration, however, has repeatedly missed opportunities to shift this burden to the Iraqis and appears willing to do so again," Levin said.

But whether the next president will be much more successful in forcing the Iraqi government to reach a lasting political settlement remains to be seen.

Whether the new administration starts pulling troops out of Iraq right away, as Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama has promised, or refuses to set a timetable, per Republican John McCain's suggestion, most agree that a functional democracy in Iraq could still be years away because of the complexities of the issues involved and the deeply rooted distrust among the nation's sectarian groups.

"Iraq has the potential to develop into a stable, secure multiethnic, multi-sectarian democracy under the rule of law," Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq said in April when he last testified before Congress. "Whether it realizes that potential is ultimately up to the Iraqi people."

>> Back -- Page 1 2

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

++ Discuss this topic in The Forum

Current rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (9 total votes)

Please add your rating:

Today's Video Highlight


Dems' hopes for Senate supermajority dashed in Ga.
Auditors fault Treasury oversight of bailout funds
Sen. Mel Martinez of Fla. won't seek re-election
Big Three survival bailout requests rise to $34B
GM exec: bankruptcy not an option for industry
Go to News Central


Barbara Walters Falters
Say No To Newspaper Bailouts
Ignorance Reigns Supreme
Brace For The Change You Do Not Believe In
Obamamania On The Right
Read More Commentary


Bozell: Barbara Walters Falters by RiverKing
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 by Im4atbrka
Blankley: Brace For The Change You Do Not Believe In by JamesB
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 by candles
Discuss Issues in the Forum


Obama's Iraq Challenge
Bailout: The New American Business Model
Time is Running Out for President to Free Border Agents
Visit The Loft

Legislative Action Center
Mr. President! Free Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean!
Results of Friday's House Vote on Bailout Bill
Results of Wednesday's Senate Vote on Bailout Bill
Support the Contract with Conservatives

Grassroots Survey Team
View recent survey results
Join the survey team!

Latest Online Poll
Do you support expanded drilling of oil in the U.S. to help combat the high price of gasoline?
View poll archives

Check out these resources at GOPUSA!

There is even more information in GOPUSA's Resources section.

Seen a good resource?
Let us know!

Newsmax: Who Replaces Hillary?

The Chavez Democrats

NASA Wary of Relying on Russia

Do House Democrats Take Terrorism Seriously?

Boeing's Audacious Allies


"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That's not leadership. That's not going to happen."
-- Barack Obama
Get our RSS news feedSign up for e-mail updates
Read us on your wireless deviceAdd us to your web site
Download us to your PDASend letter to the editor
E-mail this pageContact us

   
Web     GOPUSA Web Site

   

Get your daily dose of wit at GOPUSA's Cartoon Central.

Place your ad for FREE and get noticed at GOPUSA!!.

 

Conservative Classifieds

Declaration of Independence

United States Constitution

Federalist Papers

Presidential Inaugural Addresses

Searching For The Gipper

Scrolling Text provided by JPowered,com