"Funny shit", but not ha-ha funny, more like "for a superpower we look like a joke" funny: yesterday the big interweb buzz was over the "trophy" video of some civilians in Baghdad being shot by members of a private security company, which is a lot of syllables for the word "mercenaries." The video, probably best seen at either Crooks and Liars or from site Flurl. This clip has so far sparked two investigations into who and what we've got dong our dirty work over there. (Both video links seem to use the clip from BareKnucklePolitics.com, as far as we can tell the origin point of the video. )

For a great background on the mercenaries we're spending our taxes on, check out Private Warriors, a Frontline report that sets the stage for the trophy video nicely, for want of a better term.

Also: The Brit Marines Hazing Gets Out Of Hand video isn't doing a lot for the general western image, either.