An MBT SHOESi police lieutenant

An MBT SHOESi police lieutenant, who for obvious reasons asked to remain anonymous, confirmed to me the

widespread rumors that a few police officers are perpetrating many of the hundreds of assassinations –

mostly of former Baath Party members – that take place in Basra each month. He told me that there is

even a sort of “death car”: a white Toyota Mark II that glides through the city streets, carrying

off-duty police officers in the pay of extremist religious groups to their next assignment.

One wonders if Steven Vincent’s last ride was in a white Toyota Mark II.

In other Colonial MBT SHOES news, 14 Marines along with their translator have been killed in one

roadside bomb explosion. Steve Vincent’s translator was a bit more fortunate – while they were both

shot, she still lives. Edward Wong of the NY Times reports:

BAGHDAD, MBT SHOES, Aug. 3 – An American journalist writing about the rise of fundamentalist Islam was

shot dead overnight after being abducted in the southern port city of Basra, American embassy and MBT

SHOESi officials said today. The journalist’s translator was also shot and is in serious condition at

a Basra hospital.