Rotten to the DynCorp

In Iraq, private military contractors "are protecting key leaders, escorting convoys, guarding military installations or oil pipelines, training Iraqi forces, interrogating prisoners ... some have become entangled in firefights," reports Contra Costa Times. "The potential role of contractors in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, and the legal obstacles to prosecuting them for reported abuses ... have raised sharp concerns." DynCorp, whose employees "escaped prosecution despite accusations in 2000 of running a prostitution ring in the Balkans," had eight armed men at the recent raid of Ahmed Chalabi's home and offices. The DynCorp employees were "directing and encouraging" the raid, and some "helped themselves to baklava, apples and diet soda from Chalabi's refrigerator," according to witnesses.