Specifics on "benchmarks"?

Has anyone else noticed that the announcement of "benchmarks" which represent a "major shift in tactics" right before the election appears to be completely hollow?

Leaving aside Maliki's denial that an agreement on benchmarks has been reached, as far as I can tell, all that's being announced is an agreement to have benchmarks.

As to what they are, when they are, and how they are to be accomplished, that is yet to be determined. Is this really a major breakthrough?

Perhaps this is why Rumsfeld is angrily warning reporters off the subject, because if they look closely they will see there's nothing there.