US Congress awaits Iraq assessment

With both houses of Congress debating war-related legislation, US politicians today awaited the Bush administration’s assessment of political, economic and military progress made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s government.

Administration officials said in advance the report concludes that the Iraqis have failed to pass long-promised laws that the administration has called key to national cohesion and economic recovery, such as legislation that would fairly divide Iraq’s oil resources.