[Paradox]

The same Iraqi troops that have displayed such strong resistance to the coalition forces in the south of the country have reportedly shied away from encounters with the Kurdish peshmerga in the north and retreated to their lines around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Thats because the know that if the Kurds get them, they will be treated ALOT differently than if they were captured by the other coalition forces..

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

This reminds me of the battle of Berlin.
Surrender to the Allies and get humanitarian treatment or let the Russians inflict maximum inhumanity.

The choices for the Iraqi military are slim.

Surrender to American forces and live or be slaughtered by the Kurds.

The Kurds should be at the northern outskirts of Baghdad soon.
The choice is obvious and the war will end surprisingly quickly.