Great progress in training the Iraqi troops

You will probably recall sometime back when we learned that the number of Iraqi battalions cleared to level "1", meaning they were prepared to fight on their own without American leadership, had declined from 3 to 1. Well folks, it's now declined to zero.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.

So much for how well we're doing the job of training the Iraqis to replace us. And, of course, the insurgency is in its last throes. Or do you suppose Cheney really meant, in its last throws (as in the pitcher's warmup before the ball game)?


Update: Meanwhile, in the other universe, the National Review claims our victory in Iraq is inevitable and writes:

During this sort of waiting game in Iraq, the American military silently is training tens of thousands of Iraqis to do the daily patrols, protect construction projects, and assure the public that security is on the way, while an elected government reminds the people that they are at last in charge.

[Hat tip to Brad DeLong]