It seems likely that the American journalist who was murdered last week was killed by Shia extremists, who were aided by the police. He was found with his hands tied with police issue plastic handcuffs, some believe his killers were the police themselves. His crime was to speak out about the growing power of hardline Shia Islamists in government. (note to Dubya: these aren't the same as the salafi jihadists we are fighting in the "war on terror". I know it's complicated George but keep with it.) I am reminded of david "Dave" Aaronovitch words of December 2003.

"If Iraq becomes a democracy, the consequences for the rest of the Middle East would be profound. If it becomes a basket case, then people like me will owe the world an apology. David"

I would say that a US journalist being killed by the Shia (those were the "good guys" we went to liberate) whilst our war with the Sunnis becomes increaingly vicious could be seen as a baskett case.

By the way there is an excellent blog all about Dave's attempts to rationalise the absurd at http://aaronovitch.blogspot.com/.