THE VOLUNTARY TURN-IN OF WEAPONS BY THE IRAQIS is a bust. We discussed that as the probable outcome here over two weeks ago.

I wonder if someone might try listening to the locals on this one.

"The Americans don't understand that Iraqis will not give up our guns for nothing," said Jabr Le'ebi, a private gun merchant under the old regime. "Families have paid money to buy their weapons, even if they were looted, and giving them away will create economic hardship."

Le'ebi predicted that if U.S. forces paid a $100 bounty for each weapon, Iraqis "even would turn over jet fighters." He said that Baghdad's open-air gun markets, shut down by aggressive U.S. patrols, have shifted into private homes.

Read it here.