"Three out of the 18 benchmarks of the (GAO) have been fulfilled. Even among Republican math, that is a failing grade."
Bill Richardson on Thursday, November 15th, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Yep, 3 out of 18
Richardson accurately quoted the September Government Accountability Office report that concluded the Iraqi government had met only three of 18 goals set by Congress to assess President Bush’s war strategy.
How many benchmarks the Iraqi government has actually met depends on whom you ask.
The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, determined three targets had been met and four were partially met. An analysis released by the White House shortly after the GAO report concluded nine of 18 goals had been met.
We’ll skip the debate over how much progress has been made in Iraq. Richardson cites his source and gets it right; the GAO says three of 18 benchmarks have been met.
Sources: U.S. Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Committees, Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq
White House, Benchmark Assessment Report
Written by: Janet Zink
Researched by: Angie Drobnic Holan
Edited by: Scott Montgomery
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