[gov_bean_ counter]

Hey, would the last one out, please get the lights and off the big guy?

[harpseal]

Every deserter we pick up is one less armed Iraqi soldier we have to deal with. Personally I would be elated if we did not have to drop a single bomb or fire a shot but unfortunately there will be some who just inist on being killed.

[patriciaruth]

Does this article say where they went?

[try phecta tom]

I soooooo hope this is true GO GEORGE GO USA

[Agent Smith]

Memo to Saddam:

The jig is up. Say your prayers.

[DeepInEnemyTerritory]

Great news! Maybe we can train these guys to do the dangerous "urban warfare" assuming, of course, that there are people who insist on fighting.

[bobi]

aaaaa statistics :)).

in sun office

one sais: 15% have deserted.

the other: how much is that?

well aaa 15% out of iraqi army of 200000 is 30000.

the other: uuuuu wow ...

BY THE WAY THE ORIGINAL STORY SAIS THAT IN THE NORTHERN PART OF IRAQ US UNITS ARE REPORTING THAT ABOUT 15% OF SOLDIERS THERE!! HAVE DESERTED.

That does not mean 15% in whole Iraq.

But I am sure that by the end of the week there will be 100000 deserters. But I hate statistics especially writen by a journalists.

[The South Texan]

Are the French advising the Iraqi military too?

[RS]

Video ! Pictures ! FORCE the media to play this up even if they hate doing it !

[TBall]

I hope these guys don't get near our troups. trojan horse shit.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Ping!

[Consort]

Send all the Iraqi POWs to France.

[RS]

... And treat them well, we need more people in that area with a greater respect for themselves and their country rather then the mindless ones who follow the insane leaders !

Let them go home with stories of the generously way they were treated by the Americans.

[deport]

LOL...... Yep and word is they had to tell them to go back and come back in 48 hours.......

---

'30,000 IRAQI SOLDIERS DESERT'

Mar 17 2003

Scared Iraqi conscripts return home to avoid battle, say Allied commanders

From Bob Roberts At The US HQ, Camp As-Saylihah, Qatar

UP TO 30,000 Iraqi conscripts have fled to escape an invasion, allied commanders claimed last night.

One source said of the deserters - around 15per cent of the Iraqi army: "They have upped and left, they are going home to mum."

[Reeses]

15 percent of Saddam's army have deserted

How many of them want to fight with us? If we play this right, instead of POW's they could be part of the coalition of the willing.

[MisterHistory]

Normally I would discount reporting of this nature, but the times they are a changing.

I have heard and read about many instances of the Iraqi soldiers ready to surrender, both in 1991 and now. I believe that the U.S. Military is not counting on surrender as a tactic and nor should they. Hoping to take advantage of such a situation might be more accurate.

I do believe that defection,surrender, or desertion is a much stronger possibility now than twelve years ago.

Hoping for hours instead of days, instead of weeks.

[God is good]

30,000 terrified yet smart Iraqi soldiers...

[MCH]

NOW should be especially pleased with this development. That's 30,000 X 72 = 2.16 million virgins who will remain virtuous in Islam "heaven". Oh well, there'll still be a shortage no doubt. I'm guessing this must be the gay contingent of Saddam's army.

[LibKill]

Good for them. Saddam's slaves are making a move to escape.

I bet Saddam is going to be very lonely, shortly before the end.

[FLcitizen]

I understand now why the French have been adamantly opposed to this war. Evidently they’ve been training the Iraqi military. And now, the student has surpassed the teacher at the only thing the French military is good at.....surrendering at the first sign of a fight!