"Americans have been given goals to achieve in Iraq, but not the standards by which to measure progress. And the only assurance Americans have been given that we can reach those goals is to trust the President and his Administration at their word"

This quote by Patrick J. Kennedy speaks with the lack of clearness and transparency in the US government's mission in Iraq. Kennedy is suggesting that the American people have actually been given objectives to achieve in Iraq, but not the standards by which to determine progress. This absence of clarity and transparency has actually left the American individuals without any method to assess the success of the objective, and the only guarantee they have actually been provided is to rely on the President and his Administration at their word. Kennedy's quote highlights the requirement for greater transparency and accountability in the United States government's objective in Iraq, and the requirement for the American people to be provided the details they need to make informed choices.