The Washington Post reports that Sunni volunteer forces—the one’s we’re arming in preparation for and promotion of a future civil war—are abandoning their posts.

U.S.-backed Sunni volunteer forces, which have played a vital role in reducing violence in Iraq, are increasingly frustrated with the American military and the Iraqi government over what they see as a lack of recognition of their growing political clout and insufficient U.S. support.

The problem is that we’ve armed them to help maintain order…and now they’re feeling their oats.

“They should make me stronger. They should not weaken me,” said Kassim, a former commander in the Islamic Army, an insurgent group.

…The predominantly Sunni Awakening forces, referred to by the U.S. military as the Sons of Iraq or Concerned Local Citizens, are made up mostly of former insurgents who have turned against extremists because of their harsh tactics and interpretation of Islam. The U.S. military pays many fighters roughly $10 a day to guard and patrol their areas. Thousands more unpaid volunteers have joined out of tribal and regional fealties. U.S. efforts to manage this fast-growing movement of about 80,000 armed men are still largely effective, but in some key areas the control is fraying.

Consider that: We are propping up a mostly Shiite government…at the same time that we are arming 80,000 Sunni soldiers, many of whom are former insurgents/terrorists.

U.S. commanders and 20 Awakening leaders across Iraq. Some U.S. military officials say they are growing concerned that the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq has infiltrated Awakening forces in some areas.

Capture Osama bin Laden? Hell, we’re giving his soldiers weapons…..