More Questions Than Answers: The New York Times investigates the Lincoln Group—the self-proclaimed public relations firm responsible for bribing journalists in Iraq—but tells us almost nothing about what the group actually does for all that government money it receives, something the Pentagon inspector general is now investigating too.

Another thing that remains unclear is whether anyone at the Lincoln Group knows anything about public relations. The founders are a serial entrepreneur and a West Point dropout. The relationships they claim with legitimate communications people such as Jerry Della Femina or Omnicom, are either exaggerated or disavowed.

Perhaps the reason they have to pay for media coverage is that they actually have no idea how to earn it.