HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PENTAGON'S 12/07 IRAQ REPORT

You can find the entire report in PDF here.


Iraqi national leaders have made only marginal progress on key legislation, constitutional revisions and in resolving other critical issues needed for political reform and reconciliation.


National reconciliation is required for long-term stability but continues to be hindered by slow progress and competing interests.


However, limits on capacity at both the ministerial and provincial levels will likely prevent the GoI from fully executing its capital budget. In addition, weak institutions, a poor business climate, limited access to capital, lack of essential services, poor technical skills and security issues remain obstacles to private sector-led growth.


The lack of capacity in contracting, the lack of trained budget personnel, concern about corruption and numerous other systemic structural impediments hamper faster execution.


Unemployment and underemployment remain major challenges. The Iraqi Government’s Central Statistical Organization official estimate of unemployment and underemploy-ment remains at 17.6% and 38.1%, respectively.


Corruption at all levels in the oil industry remains a significant problem.


Improving the availability of basic services such as electricity, water and healthcare to all Iraqis could help improve the public’s confidence in the government. During this reporting period, the GoI’s improvements in budget execution have translated into minimal advances in the delivery of essential services to the people of Iraq, mainly due to sectarian bias in targeting and execution of remedial programs.


Nationwide polling in October 2007 indicates that 64% of Iraqis feel safe in their neighborhoods, but only 34% feel they can safely travel outside their neighborhoods.


The Iraqi forces’ ability to secure Iraq with significantly reduced Coalition support will improve as their readiness levels improve. Such improvements remain constrained, however, by MoD and MoI deficiencies in logistics, combat support functions and combat enablers and by shortages of officers at all operational and tactical levels.