More Than 1,000 in Iraq’s Forces Quit Basra Fight

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

Source: New York Times

BAGHDAD — 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. The Bush administration has conditioned further withdrawals of American troops on the readiness of the Iraqi military and police.

The crisis created by the desertions and other problems with the Basra operation was serious enough that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki hastily began funneling some 10,000 recruits from local Shiite tribes into his armed forces. That move has already generated anger among Sunni tribesmen whom Mr. Maliki has been much less eager to recruit despite their cooperation with the government in its fight against Sunni insurgents and criminal gangs.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world/middleeast/04ir...

[Xipe Totec]

1. Cannon fodder malfunction nt

[Stuart G]

2. Why did they quit fighting? Aren't they the improved forces we have been training?

[bemildred]

3. Heckuvan army you got there, Nouri. nt

[pokercat999]

4. A lot smarter and braver than their American counterparts.

Even in their own country they are smart enough to recognize bullshit when they see it. If only our troops were smart enough and brave enough to lay down their weapons and come home in peace.

[underpants]

7. That is a rather uninformed post

First of all the US fighting force is an absolute juggernaut-the likes of which have never been seen in our history. That is a culmination of a lot of innovation but as far as the boots on the ground you are talking about a remarkably well trained AND trainable, well nutritioned, and conditioned force. The number of assaults by military members in our endeavor in Iraq is incredible-that comes from one part command and control but mostly from social conditioning received prior to entering the military. That is what "conditioning" and "trainable" refers to the education, not perfect as it is, and social indoctrination of the people in our forces

Secondly if they laid down their arms and refused to fight they wouldn't be coming home at all they would at best be arrested.

[pokercat999]

10. Can't arrest them if no one will put on the hand cuffs. I wasn't

talking about 2 or 3, I was talking about them ALL.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Perhaps they don't like the idea

of shooting their own countrymen?

Even Mandarin-speaker soldiers of China's People's "Liberation" Army wouldn't shoot at the Tienneman Square protesters.

[tabasco]

6. This is the great success Bush was talking about, right?

If this is success, I'd hate to see failure.

[Supersedeas]

8. nothing to see here - feed them more Noami, feed them the last campaign fund raising numbers

[tuckessee]

9. LOL! America's Iraqi puppets make the ARVN look like Prussians. n/t