Not every aspect of the GAO study on the Iraq benchmarks contradicts the administration line. Indeed, on one unfulfilled benchmark — the persecution of Sunni military commanders — the White House and the GAO see eye to eye. But the response amounts to the same thing. Instead of insisting that the benchmark is met and the strategy is working, the White House admits that it’s not, but curiously insists that it doesn’t need to do anything differently. We just need to stay the course.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=179992