Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz released the following statement concerning the newly released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Iraq benchmarks. The report concluded that Iraq has failed to meet 15 of the 18 military, economic and political benchmarks set by Congress and agreed on by President Bush.

“Today's GAO Report demonstrates the importance of having a Democratic Congress which is willing to hold the Bush Administration accountable for its war in Iraq. This report, which was required by Congress, paints a significantly different perspective of the current situation in Iraq than the head-in-the-sand assessment that the President gave from Anbar Province on Monday. 

“The report shows that the Iraqi government has failed to make satisfactory progress on 15 of the 18 legislative, economic and security benchmarks for its nation. Specifically, the GAO said that it is unclear whether violence in Iraq has been reduced.

“It is time for the Iraqi government to accept the responsibility for the safety and security of the Iraqi people, and it is time the United States to begin redeploying our armed forces."

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