European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                2007 stars and stripes Page is in the states More gop embracing an Iraq withdrawal by Anne Flaherty the associated press Washington Olympia Snowe on wednesday became the second Republican to embrace a Bill ordering troops out of Iraq As president Bush National Security adviser tried to Stop defections from the White House War joined Gordon in cosponsoring a Bill that would re quire troops to Start leaving in 120 the Bill also would end combat by april snows endorsement is a shift for the Sena who in recent months opposed a similar Snowe had said earlier that shed been considering signing on to the measure because the situation in Iraq was growing Given the fact that the iraqi government int prepared to change its own Polit ical we should be prepared to change course with respect to our Snowe said while other republicans were expected to oppose the firm timetable on troop withdraw More and More gop members Are calling for the to end combat next at least 10 republicans in recent weeks have said the should Start reducing the military role in with the latest Chal Lenge to the presidents Iraq strategy coming tuesday from Eliza Beth simply our troops have been doing a great but the iraqi government has our commitment in Iraq is not nor should the iraqi govern ment perceive it to it is my firm Hope and belief that we can Start bringing our troops Home in the White House this week re Vived its outreach Effort to including wednesdays visit by Bush top National Snowe Security Stephen who met with More than a dozen the visit came As the White House finalized a 23page Progress report on Iraq that concludes the government in Baghdad has made Little Progress in meeting Reform goals Laid Down by Bush and earlier this con Gress passed a 2007 War spending Bill that identified 18 benchmarks for Security and economic the list was based on promises made by the iraqi government when Bush decided to Send in additional the legislation required Bush to certify by july 15 and again on 15 that Baghdad was making significant strides in meeting the if he Aid dollars must be according to the the Law allows Bush to waive the require ment to Cut Smith Iraq report will show limited Progress the associated press Washington struggling to defend its Iraq the Bush administration in a 23page Classi fied report will Point to limited Progress being made by the government in Bagh officials told the associated press on the interim which will be presented on Capitol Hill on finds the iraqi government has failed to pass Long promised Laws that washing ton has called key to National co Hesion and economic such As legislation that would fairly Divide Iraq Oil but in a Glasthal full a the report will emphasize that the iraqi government is Mak ing some Progress in about half of the areas identified earlier this year by other areas where Baghdad is not making significant gains will be dismissed As not As critical to the Lon term Success in the report also will Point to Ward signs of Hope throughout such As a drop in sectarian killings in Baghdad and opposition to Al Aida by tribal sheiks in Anbar the primary argument will be that lawmakers should wait until september to judge the strategy in but the report also will not try to sugarcoat what any observer can determine on his one senior administration offi who has read the de scribed it As giving the iraqi government a Grade of two administration officials separately confirmed that the re port concludes Iraq has not met or made substantial Progress to Ward about half the targets set by Congress and has made Progress on or arguably achieved the oth neither official would provide examples and spoke on condition of anonymity because the unclassified version had not been re at the state spokesman Sean Mccormack agreed that none of what he called the big three Bench Marks had been met enacted iraqi Laws to allocate Oil and Gas resources and Revenue and to address amnesty for former baath party in a fact Sheet released to re the White House identified a total of 10 areas of improve ment in Iraq that Are Likely to be found in the upcoming these include an increase in Dis covered arms attacks in Anbar at a two year Low and car bombings and suicide attacks being Down in May and