Big Surprise - GAO Finds Iraq Benchmarks Are Not Being Met

The Government Accountability Office has released their report on the status of the 18 benchmarks that the Iraqi government was supposed to meet as part of the troop surge. The results ain't pretty:

The January 2007 U.S. strategy seeks to provide the Iraqi government with the time and space needed to help Iraqi society reconcile. Our analysis of the 18 legislative, security and economic benchmarks shows that as of August 30, 2007, the Iraqi government met 3, partially met 4, and did not meet 11 of its 18 benchmarks.

So which 3 did they meet?

1. Establish supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad security plan.
2. Establish all the of the planned joint security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad
3. Ensure that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected.

And which ones have not been met? Well, basically all of the most important ones:

1. Enacting and implementing legislation on de-Ba'athification
2. Enacting and implementing legislation to ensure the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources
3. Enacting and implementing legislation establishing a strong militia disarmament program to ensure that such security forces are accountable only to the central government and loyal to the Constitution of Iraq
4. Ensuring that Iraqi security forces are providing even-handed enforcement of the law
5. Reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminating militia control of local security

You get the point.

Mission Accomplished...