Gains in Iraq not widespread

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- Reports on the situation in Iraq from the U.S. government expressed a negative view on the economic and political outlook despite security gains.

The U.S. congressional investigative Government Accountability Office issued a report early this week saying reconciliation among Iraqi political parties has come to a standstill. The GAO report also noted Iraqi security forces remain incapable of conducting independent military operations and Baghdad lacks the political will to allocate portions of its budget to reconstruction issues.

By contrast, the English-language Arab News said Wednesday a Pentagon report titled "Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq" forecast positive trends in development in the economic, political and security front.

In further disparity, the Pentagon report highlighted the "negative role" that Tehran and Damascus play in Iraqi security issues, while the GAO report makes only a scant reference to Syria in regard to Iraqi refugees and make no mention of Iran in the entire 94-page report.

The recent GAO assessment was consistent with its 2007 analysis saying benchmarks used by Washington to gauge progress in Iraq were off-base, Arab News said.

The Pentagon and GAO reports for June both seemed to agree, however, that political progress in Iraq would remain sluggish until sectarian divisions could be mended.