Well, That Does It. Iraqis Will Also Be Banned From Reconstruction

If they're not going to help out militarily, they won't be part of the bidding.

One third of Iraq's new soldiers quitting army

Plans to deploy the first battalion of Iraq's new army are in doubt because a third of the soldiers trained by the US-led occupation authority have quit, US defence officials said today.

Touted as a key to Iraq's future, the 700-man battalion lost some 250 men over recent weeks as they were preparing to begin operations this month, Defence Department officials said.

"We are aware that a third ... has apparently resigned and we are looking into that in order to ensure that we can recruit and retain high-quality people for a new Iraqi army," said Lt Col James Cassella, a Pentagon spokesman.