Yesterday, Erik Prince the founder and CEO of the controversial Blackwater USA, spoke to the U.S. Congress.

For four hours, he was grilled by the politicians and his performance was very impressive.

Erik Prince -says its entry in Wikipedia- is noted for disliking having his photo taken and distributed; he often uses his hands to shield himself from photographers.

While attending a technology conference in North Carolina, he was visibly uncomfortable when photographed on stage and officials asked that the images not be published.

He also frequently turns down interview requests.

Some have claimed that this is due to fear of terrorist reprisals for his role in creating Blackwater USA.

Watch here the video of this fasciating hearing on private security contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

(Picture by Chris Curry/The Virginian-Pilot)

Katie Couric landed in Iraq a few days ago.

The CBS anchorwoman writes in her blog:

I was in New Orleans last week, which seems like nirvana compared to Baghdad.

You can’t help but wonder if this place will survive, much less thrive. Meanwhile, all U.S. and Iraqi soldiers patrolling the streets have my renewed respect and appreciation.

One-hundred-and-ten degrees with full-body armor and heavy uniforms. I don’t know how they do it.

But they do, and we should be grateful.

Katie Couric knew she would have high-level access during her trip to Iraq, but it wasn’t until yesterday morning that she discovered just how far that would extend.

Yesterday, a general called CBS’s Baghdad bureau chief to say that the CBS anchor should go to a nearby heliport to be taken to an undisclosed location for an important interview.

She was flown to Anbar province to see and interview President Bush, who was making a surprise stopover in Iraq en route to Australia.

A surprise visit.

And a surprise interview.

(Picture by Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

The New York Times has been publishing very sensitive front page pictures about the situation in Iraq.

Almost every day.

All of them are excellent examples of photojournalism.

And, I am sure, a nightmare for the White House.

You don’t need too many words to understand what’s going on there…

Just pictures like these.