Parliament Batting Zero On Benchmarks For Iraq

By DAMIEN CAVE The New York Times

Published: Jun 13, 2007

BAGHDAD - Iraq's political leaders have failed to reach agreement on nearly every law that the United States has demanded as a benchmark, despite heavy pressure from Congress, the White House and top military commanders.

With only three months until reports on progress are due in Washington, the deadlock has reached a point where many Iraqi and U.S. officials question whether any substantive laws will pass before the end of the year.

Kurds have blocked a vote in Iraq's Parliament on a new oil law. Shiite clerics have stymied a U.S.-backed plan for reintegrating former Baathists into the government. Sunni Arabs are demanding that a constitutional review include more power for the next president.

Even if one or two of the proposals are approved, doubts are spreading about whether the benchmarks can ever halt the violence.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a U.S. military commander Monday, "There are two mentalities in this region: conspiracy and mistrust."

Iraq's political limitations raise difficult questions for the United States. President Bush's stated mission for the increase in troops this year was to create an atmosphere of security that would lead to political reconciliation. It is uncertain what will happen, however, if broad-based compromises fail to emerge or have little effect. Most Western political officials in Iraq and Washington refuse to discuss a "Plan B" publicly.

At a meeting Tuesday in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, al-Maliki assured U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte that his administration would persist in its efforts.

"A lot of missions are ahead of us. On top of them is developing our security forces to handle their national roles in fighting the al-Qaida terrorist group, Saddamists and militias to impose law and order in all the country," al-Maliki told Negroponte.

Violence persisted Tuesday, with at least 45 people killed or found dead, including nine soldiers and civilians killed in clashes and drive-by shootings. Police said 15 al-Qaida militants also were killed in fighting with U.S. and Iraqi forces, although the military did not confirm that.

Suspected Sunni insurgents also bombed and badly damaged a span over the main north-south highway leading from Baghdad on Tuesday - the third bridge attack in as many days in an apparent campaign against key transportation arteries.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.