M-I-A In A-L-A

We're betting now this story in the Moonie Times will have an interesting ending ...

An Iraqi air force colonel disappeared recently from an Alabama Air Force base and is being sought in a regional manhunt by federal and military agents, defense officials say.

The colonel, who was not identified, was studying at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, near Montgomery, since last winter in a leadership training course that is part of U.S. efforts to rebuild the Iraqi air force.

The officer disappeared along with his family, who were living either on the base or in the Montgomery area. He left a note stating that he was leaving the yearlong military course because he did not want to return to war-torn Iraq, said officials familiar with the case.

Air Force security, FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have started a search throughout the Southeast for the colonel and his family.

One official said that the Iraqi is a "high-interest" target and that Montgomery police are involved in the search. He is thought to be planning to hide in the United States or to be fleeing to Mexico.

So let's take some bets on the outcome. Our most like scenarios:

1. This will be the first ever case of someone breaking out of the United States and into Mexico (at least the first one where it's not a man accused of killing his wife).

2. Some redneck will kill this guy, thinking the Iraqis have finally invaded us.

3. The colonel will own a whole chain of Quickie Marts within five years.

So what do you think?