Report: Petraeus 'softened' intelligence findings on Iraq's progress

Before the top US military and diplomatic officials in Iraq testify in front of Congress next month, the House will receive a dire independent assessment of progress there, the Washington Post reports. The newspaper also reveals that Gen. David Petraeus "softened" intelligence findings on Iraq's progress in advance of his appearance.

The 70-page Government Accountability Report "paints a bleak picture of prospects for Iraqi political reconciliation," the Post reports, based on the assessment of senior administration officials who have seen it. The House also will hold hearings next week on a second report from an independent commission of military experts, which is still being drafted.

In two weeks, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker will testify to Congress, based on assessments in a White House-produced report on political and military progress in Iraq.

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