BAGHDAD — A committee directed by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Bush to accelerate the transfer of security responsibility to Iraq's army and police has warned that Iraq is lagging in a number of categories.
The quarterly report, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, says the Finance Ministry is blocking the Iraqi military from spending $660 million to build a logistical network; that militias are an obstacle to handing over to Iraqis responsibility for security in three mainly Shiite Muslim provinces; and that competition among rival security organizations has prevented the country from settling on a national security structure.
"I agree it is mixed results," said Iraqi national security advisor Mowaffak Rubaie. "We are behind schedule, but we made good progress."
A foreign advisor to the Iraqi government agreed that progress was being made.
Iraqi forces are now responsible for security in seven out of 18 provinces.
The findings by Iraqi, U.S. Embassy and U.S. military officials were the latest report card on Iraq's progress.
The report follows an assessment by the Bush administration last week of Iraq's steps toward healing sectarian and ethnic rifts.
That survey of 18 "benchmarks" found Iraq lagging on passing major legislation and described the country's security forces as battling sectarian and militia influences.
The reports come as Congress has been heatedly debating the future U.S. role in Iraq.
The second quarterly report since Bush and Maliki launched the review at a summit in November rates the training and equipping of the security ministries; their ability to achieve self-reliance; the development of Iraq's intelligence apparatus and national security structure; the readiness of provinces to be controlled by Iraqi security forces; and the ability of the army to assume control.
The report also evaluates security coordination and Iraq's counter-terrorism units.
The categories are color-coded red for off schedule/requires attention; amber for proceeding adequately and green for on schedule.
No category is deemed completely on schedule. Only the training and equipping of the Defense Ministry is judged close to running on time, with a combined green and amber rating.
The Iraqi army's ability to assume operational control and Iraq's counter-terrorism forces both received amber ratings.
