Report: Military leaders doubtful about political progress in Iraq, seek to redefine 'success'

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division form up for a ceremony to honor fallen comrades at Forward Operating Base Warrior in April

US MILITARY leaders in Iraq are increasingly convinced that most of the broad political goals President George Bush laid out early this year when he announced his troop build-up will not be met this year and are seeking ways to redefine success.

In September, the top American commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, is scheduled to give Congress an assessment of progress in Iraq.

But military officers in Baghdad and outside advisers working with General Petraeus doubt that the three major goals set by US officials for the Government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will be achieved by then.

Enactment of a new law to share Iraq's oil revenue among Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish parts of the country is the only goal they think may be achieved in time, and that is considered a long shot.

Two other goals, a deal to allow more Sunni Arabs into government jobs and new provincial elections, are considered unlikely.

Read the rest at the Age