THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

In America it was a game show. In Iraq it is a question of life and death. Knight-Ridder has a chilling article on the rise of the informer in Iraq.

A word to the police can result in uniformed security officers or even private soldiers in fake uniforms dragging residents from their homes in the middle of the night - without legitimate cause, the victims complain. Angry and confused, their families suspect that neighborhood informants are feeding lies to the security forces to settle personal scores. The raids also have sown doubts that government security forces can protect the people.

Much of the suspicion is breaking down along ethnic lines, with Sunni and Shiite Muslims blaming each other. The progressive erosion of trust is one reason for the violent response to Wednesday's mosque bombing in Samarra, after which private militias roamed the streets. It underscores the failure so far to build public institutions that earn confidence and that could stand in the way of open civil war.

"The Shiites are afraid of threats and assassinations, while Sunnis are afraid of raids (by uniformed security). The kidnappings or assassinations take place during the daylight hours and the raids happen at night," Ali said. "Dora has become hell for both Shiite and Sunni residents."

Some shop owners say they try not to ask customers questions that they once considered innocuous. Behind closed doors, residents suspect their own relatives of bringing raids to their home.

Even the US Army is involved in their use.

U.S military and Iraqi government officials say they use informants but that they double-check the information that's provided. They say they have a responsibility to follow tips in order to find kidnap victims or possible car bombers. And they say they pay informants.

Helping to make Iraq a better country, one raid at a time.