3000 new soldiers desert

[rooboy]

THOUSANDS of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have deserted the fledgling service after completing training by instructors from the United States, France and Britain, defence ministry officials said today.

"Some 3000 ANA soldiers have fled the army," ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.

"The defence ministry has announced that they have to come back and join the army otherwise they will have to pay for all the expenses spent on their training."

The desertions are a serious blow to the nascent ANA which, according to Zahir Azimi, numbers around 10,000 troops.

International observers have suggested the real strength of the ANA is closer to 7000.

Even though it is forecast to grow to be about 70,000-strong, the ANA's numbers are small in comparison to the 100,000 armed militia currently being disarmed and demobilised by government authorities.

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8370470%255E1702,00.html

[Zhade]

1. Damn it. I thought it was US soldiers!

I was about to jump for joy over here.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

4. now we see

who has the brighter bunch of recruits.

[Zhade]

5. Yep - get the training, get the weapons, take off for parts unknown.

Pretty brilliant strategy, actually.

Remind me again how much this is costing me?

[Barrett808]

2. "militia currently being disarmed and demobilised by authorities"

<cough/>

[DUreader]

3. This is how the Taliban and Al Q. are getting training these days

They send their recruits to enlist in the new Afg. Army.

After being trained by Occupying Forces they desert and return to take up

arms against the occupation.

[dawgman]

6. that's how I read it as well

[Kinkistyle]

11. Mujahedeen: 2K4!

Its like John Madden's football video games. A new version shipped out every year. Looks like the U.S. is yet again pumping out the next version of the Afghani Freedom Fighter, the alma-mater of our beloved Usama Bin Laden.

[susu369]

7. "You come back here right now!" sez the defense ministry

Or else!

And bring back those guns and weapons we gave you in training....

[0007]

14. ....and bring back those new boots you...you ingrate!

[Algorem]

8. Cease and desist this about-face and charge shit,man.

The pipeline and the poppies depend on it,dudes.

[drscm]

9. They are simply emulating our glorious *pResident. eom

eom

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. When you have an AWOL POTUS

why shouldn't everyone follow suit?

[KG]

12. which is the bigger US cluster-fuck, afghanistan or iraq?

:shrug:

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. "they will have to pay for all the expenses spent on their training" - LOL

.
.
. Ok,- so how do they make quick bucks in Afghanistan ?

Sell some of their favorite crop !

Maybe they'll just send them a few kilos, or just "deduct" any shipments that get confiscated

Really - "have to pay for the expenses" -

I bet the "deserters" are upset !!

And as one DUer suggested,

it's hard to decide which is the bigger clusterf_ck. Afgahnistan or IraqNam . :shrug: