the Pentagon conceded a decreasing number of Iraqi battalions are able to operate on their own?

Question

Isn't this a key benchmark of the Bush administration? Has there ever been a greater failure in American war policy (besides maybe Vietnam, Korea....)?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070713/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

Answer 1

Korea was a stale-mate. But it's debatable whether Vietnam was a worse debacle than Iraq.

Yes, combat effectiveness is one major indicator of whether Iraq is become more stable and self-sufficient.

But with Bush re-writing the standards to fit the facts, it really doesn't matter. Last week, Iraq had met 0 of 18 benchmarks. Bush then changed the standards so that (with the exact same progress) Iraq has met 8 of the 18 benchmarks to a "satisfactory" degree.

Apparently, Bush considers a 40% loss of combat effectiveness "satisfactory".

Answer 2

no THIS is the greatest failure.... it's incomparably greater....