Report finds Iraqi government precarious

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By PAULINE JELINEK and KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer

The Iraqi government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months and its security forces have not improved enough to operate without outside help, U.S. spy agencies conclude in a new assessment of the country's political and military fortunes.

Despite some uneven improvements, the analysts concluded that the level of overall violence is high, Iraq's sectarian groups remain unreconciled, and al-Qaida in Iraq is still able to conduct highly visible attacks.

"Iraqi political leaders remain unable to govern effectively," the 10-page document, a declassified summary of a more detailed National Intelligence Estimate, concludes. A copy was obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Thursday.

The report represents the collaborative judgments of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organization of each military service. It comes at a time of renewed tensions between Washington and Baghdad, and as the Bush administration prepares a mid-September report on how its troop buildup in Iraq is working.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the report confirms what most Americans already know: "Our troops are mired in an Iraqi civil war and the president's escalation strategy has failed to produce the political results he promised to our troops and the American people."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070823/ap_on_...7r.6vMJWEx2wPIE

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Several regional governors have been assassinated over the last 2-3 weeks.

[almaty 19]

But, things are getting better all the time over there...various posts

[Otto 83]

And CNN just reported that the President just announced the beginning of troop withdrawals starting on September 15th..

[Lansbury 19]

Didn't they have a very stable government until we unseated it

[Otto 83]

Didn't they have a very stable government until we unseated it

Yes, if drink-the-cool-aide-or-die is considered stable...

Guess they better start getting stable in a hurry now..

[almaty 19]

Yes, if drink-the-cool-aide-or-die is considered stable...

outside of not drinking the Kool-aid, what is the differnece.?