Disaster in Iraq, get the white flags!

IHT - More than 1,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen either refused to fight or simply abandoned their posts during the inconclusive assault against Shiite militias in Basra last week, a senior Iraqi government official said Thursday. Iraqi military officials said the group included dozens of officers, including at least two senior field commanders in the battle. The desertions in the heat of a major battle cast fresh doubt on the effectiveness of the American-trained Iraqi security forces.

Oh it's terrible folks, quagmire, it's all going down the crapper, the end is near, quagmire, get the exit strategy, give up now while you can, quagmire, it'll never work, walk away, surrender, it won't work, quagmire! I'm surprised more didn't desert, think about it, these guys are over there fighting against enemies who have no mercy, no compassion and who have already demonstrated their barbarity. If they make the wrong choices and Sam pulls out, which can certainly happen, they'll be hung out to dry, getting their throats slit on Youtube. But hang on folks, let's have a bit of perspective.

IHT - According to the Army, about nine in every 1,000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, compared with nearly seven per 1,000 a year earlier. Overall, 4,698 soldiers deserted this year, compared with 3,301 last year.

I don't know folks, I'm having some 'fresh doubt' about the US Army now, perhaps they need to withdraw from the United States then, over 4000, no wait, I'm trying to be pessimistic here, so make that almost 5000 deserted. Quagmire! Withdraw, no war, surrender, quagmire! But seriously, given the lack of support and determination showed by much of the west over Iraq and just about the whole threat from terrorism, credit to the Iraqis that have turned on the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, they are the ones truly playing with fire!