WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kerry issued the following statement today, in response to the Benchmark Status Report on Iraq that President Bush sent to Congress this morning.


"It's telling that the only report that shows progress in Iraq comes from the same Administration that predicted we'd be greeted as liberators and proclaimed 'mission accomplished.' This Administration is in deep denial. Their misguided account is out of touch with every recent independent Iraq assessment, from General Jones to the GAO report, which found that the Iraqis met only one of eight benchmarks on political reconciliation. The White House needs to stop spinning and start changing course now."


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