In Iraq, little pressure for reforms
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The debate in Washington over troop numbers is intense. But in Baghdad, there's been little sense of alarm or urgency among the Iraqi politicians who would have the most to lose if the United States decides to begin a major pull back.
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Iraq isn&#39;t part of its quota system -- pump about 1.1 million barrels a day over their agreed 27 million barrels a day target, leaving them room to cut production without adjusting the target.
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The differences of opinion come as the community prepares to enjoy power for the first time in Iraq's history.
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Their president's approval ratings are at historic lows. The war in Iraq is grinding down their political prospects, and their party is showing deep divisions on issues such as education and immigration.
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Iraqi leaders insisted they were making military and political progress, defending their efforts after the Bush administration gave the Baghdad government a spotty report card on a series of benchmarks aimed at bringing stability to the war-torn nation.
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IraqÂs leader unveiled a plan to defuse sectarian crises, but it was unclear whether it could stem the increasingly brazen violence.
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The U.S. military buildup has brought some relief from bombs and bullets to Baghdad's shattered neighborhoods. But it has failed so far to reach its overarching purpose: getting Iraqis to agree to the political compromises that Washington consider crucial for any lasting stability.
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Iraqi leaders are no less divided than America's when it comes to the way forward in Iraq, with sharp disagreements emerging on key issues &#151; especially the idea of "surging" or increasing U.S. troops in Baghdad in the short term.
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Just as in any election, it's the undecided voters who will make the difference in Iraq.
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A Bush administration report on Iraq shows satisfactory progress on eight benchmarks, unsatisfactory progress on another eight and mixed results on the other two
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US and Iraqi forces control less than one-third of Baghdad, according to a security review.
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BAGHDAD, July 12 -- Iraqi politicians on Thursday struck a more pessimistic tone about Iraq than did the White House assessment, and said the deadlock between warring Sunni and Shiite factions makes major political progress unlikely in coming months.
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Iraq&#39;s government is making only meager progress, a new US report found Thursday, as the House of Representatives voted again for troop withdrawals and Democrats roasted the White House over the war.
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Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki shrugs off US criticism of slow progress saying it is understandable in the face of violence.
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With sentiment growing that Iraq's Prime Minister needs to be replaced, the potential successors inspire little confidence
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Iraq&#39;s government has the capacity to proceed with a basic economic program, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, even as authorities struggle to contain violence before elections set for January.
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News reports on Iraq paint a picture of a country trapped in a cycle of violence and destruction. The sceptics and nay-sayers don&#39;t believe Iraqis are ready for democracy.