The Report recommends tying continued U.S. involvement in Iraq to their achievement of certain benchmarks, or milestones, in the coming year. "If the Iraqi government demonstrates political will and makes substantial progress" towards achieving certain milestones "the United States should make clear its willingness to continue [...] political, military, and economic support for the Iraqi government." On the other hand, without such progress, the U.S. should reduce its "support for the Iraqi government.

Some of the proposed milestones are:

• approval of a petroleum law
• approval of a militia law
• approval of an amnesty agreement (for former Baath party members)
• Iraqi control of the Army and provinces