Iraq: Getting Better All the Time!

(It can't get much worse.)

Blackwater USA marked for elimination by the Iraqi government after 10 (says AFP; LA Times says 8) Iraqi civilians shot and killed by Blackwater employees. Blackwater says its men were fired upon and acted in legitimate defense. The State Department says it's "not in a position to assign any blame." How this plays out will say a lot about who runs the game in Iraq.

Rolling Stone on some of the other problems with private contractors in Iraq.