US tactics in Iraq are not working, says Congress report

A U.S. Congress report has cast serious doubts about Americas new military tactics in Iraq, saying that only three out of 18 political and security benchmarks set by the Bush Administration had been met.

London, Aug.31 : A U.S. Congress report has cast serious doubts about America's new military tactics in Iraq, saying that only three out of 18 political and security benchmarks set by the Bush Administration had been met.

A draft of the report by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, contradicts claims by President George W Bush that security has improved, The Telegraph reports.

Bush is under growing pressure to show progress in the unpopular four-year war or must start withdrawing troops.

He has repeatedly urged Congress to give his "surge" strategy, which sent 30,000 more troops to Iraq this year, more time to work. He has maintained that the corner has been turned.

Some experts and congressmen who have travelled to Iraq have agreed with him, though they have lamented the government's complete stagnation.

The 69-page GAO report, which was leaked to the Washington Post and is due to be published next week, said US agencies disagreed about whether or not sectarian clashes were down.

It noted that while there have been fewer attacks against US forces, the number of attacks on Iraqi civilians remained unchanged.

ANI