Updated GAO Grades on Iraqi Benchmarks

The only changes from the draft report leaked last week is that two items (9 and 12) were changed from “Unsatisfactory” to “Mixed Progress.”  These are: 9. Providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations, and 12. Ensuring Iraqi security forces are providing even-handed law enforcement.  GAO Comptroller General, David Walker, explained before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he had determined ahead of time that one benchmark grade should be changed, and the other was changed after new information was provided by  the Pentagon.  Overall the report retains its critical analysis as contained in last week’s draft.