Iraqis Failing To Meet U.S. Benchmarks

Iraq’s political leaders have failed to reach agreements on nearly every law that the Americans have demanded as benchmarks.

Kurds have blocked a vote in Parliament on a new oil law. Shiite clerics have stymied an American-backed plan for reintegrating former Baathists into government. Sunnis are demanding that a constitutional review include more power for the next president.

And even if one or two of the proposals are approved — the oil law appears the most likely, officials said — doubts are spreading about whether the current benchmarks can ever halt the cycle of violence gripping Iraq’s communities.

Isn't the oil law really all we care about anyway.