Of particular concern is the news coming from Fallujah. As the deadline for transition quickly approaches, there are telltale signs that the situation on the ground in Iraq is not only unfriendly, but also murderously muddled. According to Robert Fisk, there has been a wild proliferation of mercenaries (can we safely say that the KIA "contractors" from Blackwater Security were at the very least flirting with mercenary status?) on the scene as of late: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=5256

This trend can do very little other that create more violence and suspicion. To what extent do these private armies contribute to a tradition of "rule of law" in the "newly-liberated" Iraq? My guess is very little, even as I anticipate the argument that without a sophisticated approach to basic security, law is meaningless.

I wonder to what extent do these groups coordinate with coalition military planners? To whom are they accountable? Do they operate under the same rules of engagement as standard US military personnel or are these "dirty tricks" teams?

And what about the brave aid workers that struggle for the credibility to bring essential goods and services to a needy population? Do these private/government contractor/security personnel undermine the mission of NGOs and other humanitarian groups by contributing to an atmosphere of dirty tricks? Or are they an effective tactical counter to a similarly unconventional urban guerrilla resistance? Time will tell, but meanwhile, it's tall cotton for the soldiers of fortune....