"AS THEY STAND UP, WE WILL STAND DOWN"

This was one of the criminal Bush regime's mantras used to build and maintain support for the Iraq War:

THE PRESIDENT: Our policy is stand up/stand down; as the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down. -June 14, 2006


THE PRESIDENT: Our strategy can be summed up this way: As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down... - November 19, 2005


THE PRESIDENT: Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. - June 28, 2005

From the Whitehouse Iraq progress report of 7/12/2007, we learn that benchmark 15 has not been met:

(xv) Increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently.

There has been a slight reduction in units assessed as capable of independent operations since January 2007. This reduction is due to a 20 percent increase in unit authorization levels (meaning the equipment numbers against which the unit is measured are higher), a fixed number of equipment sets and training seats, a lack of officers and NCOs (with some provided to less capable units to help stand them up), combat losses, and the sustainment challenges that come with these dynamics.

Assessment: The Iraqi Government has made unsatisfactory progress toward increasing the number of Iraqi Security Forces units capable of operating independently.