Deja Vu all over again

At first I thought this was a mistake - some junior editor re-posting an article from earlier in the week. But, no. This really is a new story:

Police: Iraqi troops abandon position after attack
By SLOBODAN LEKIC, Associated Press Writer
18 Apr 2008
BAGHDAD - A company of Iraqi government troops in Sadr City retreated when they came under attack from Shiite militiamen who used the cover of a sandstorm, police said Friday.

This is the second such incident reported this week (Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American’s Plea, NYT, 16 Apr).

Meanwhile,

U.S. sees Iraqis in control in Baghdad in a year

Two observations:

1. Happy times are always in the future - typically in 6 months to a year. When the year is up, happy times are still in the future. They never arrive.

2. The headline - and the article - reports only U.S. belief that Iraqis will control Baghdad - not Iraq. Just the capital city. Why is this not cheering?

Stop the madness!