Surrender & Defection.

This is coolbert:

As was seen recently at the USA Today World edition:

"Islamist fighters defect as toll rises."

"Intel suggest strikes have begun to think ISIL ranks"

"WASHINGTON. Defection of Islamic State fighters - - a closely watched measure by officials of the U.S. - - led coalition - - have begun to thin the ranks of the militants in Iraq in the last month.
Near Kirkuk in  the last week, 90 Islamic State fighters laid down their arms and turned themselves over to Kurdish peshmerga forces." [these were local men and perhaps impressed into the ranks of ISIL?]

Call it what you will. MASS DEFECTIONS AND SURRENDER A SIGN OF A CRACK-UP TO BE SURE.

Chinese communist units during the Korean War in the aftermath of the failed Spring 1950 offensive began to surrender en masse, platoons, companies and even battalions laying down their arms and allowing themselves to be taken prisoner without further ado. Even welcoming I might think the opportunity to give up the fight.

OR is this another case of optimistic reporting as was the case during the early days of the Vietnam War? Situation well in hand, progress being made constantly!

coolbert.