Coming in Tuesday's Nevada Appeal

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., issued a noncommittal statement Monday praising the military progress in Iraq reported to Congress by Gen. David Patraeus while expressing concern about the lack of political progress.

But he said he was encouraged the general believes troop reductions can begin next year.

When he voted for the "surge," Heller said Patraeus' report on military progress and the Iraqi government's success meeting its benchmarks would be key in his decision whether to continue supporting President Bush's course on the war.

While Patraeus indicated the military is making real progress, a report to Congress by its own General Accounting Office last week indicated only three or four of the more than a dozen benchmarks have been met and that political progress is stalled because the Iraqi government is "either unwilling or unable to pull the country together."

For more on Gen. David Petraeus' report, and more from Nevada's representatives in Congress see Tuesday's Nevada Appeal or check back here at www.nevadaappeal.com.