This is an interesting article from Daily Telegraph. Here is how it starts, but read the whole thing:

A rumour is swiftly spreading in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut that 40 men alleged to have looted a local textile factory are to be executed by US Marines and their heads put on spikes at the city gates.

"Don’t tell them it isn’t so," Lt Col Erik Grobowski of the Marines told staff of the embryonic TV Kut who asked their new "masters" how they should report the disturbing rumours on the evening news.

"We’re here to kick ass and we don’t want folks to think they can get away with murder, so let them think the Marines are prepared to top ’em all if they step out of line," he said.