There is just something inherently depraved about this and other companies making profits from depravity such as the Iraq invasion. It is difficult to visualize something starting out of depravity heading anywhere except toward more depravity. These corporations speak volumes about the underlying character of our government, as well as about the current status of capitalism in general. There is just nothing good one can really say about these operations.

"There is just nothing good one can really say about these operations."

Well, there may be some good that comes out of it, though it's probably of little value or comfort to the innocent people of Iraq and Afghanistan who've lost everything because of it, or the American troops and their families who have likewise suffered.

Many decent Republicans (yes there ARE many, whether we want to admit to it or not...) have come to the conclusion that the NeoCon version has nothing to do with the Republicanism that people like Senator Barry Goldwater Sr., & 'Mr. Republican', Senator Robert Taft believed in and promoted.

Ron Paul was right on target when he said the current crop of NeoCon 'Repubs' in DC have hijacked the party, and don't belong in the GOP, given their penchant for launching foreign wars, running up enormous deficits and expanding the role of federal government in every conceivable direction.

I think many of the more 'traditional' Republicans will take a long, hard look at any so-called 'Republican' they send to Washington in the future.

Neocons are exposed for what they are, and that ain't a bad thing.

how many trained fighters without a job are returning? could these folks be our new guards?

If the media are responsible for Blackwater getting out of the security business, then three cheers for the media

Rescind their immunity from murder charges and watch them fold like a drunkard

The only thing worse than militarizing police functions is privatizing military functions. Still, it's nice to know that when mercenary work is in the doldrums these covert assassins can find employment in smuggling and spying.

You live by the sword and the sword can be your end. Crimes against Humanity will at the end serve justice.

Strongly you refer to/include information/comments by JEREMY SCAHILL in the 7/23/08 THE GUARDIAN,UK that begins with the following....:BLACKWATER IS HERE TO STAY.....".It provides a perspective not apparent in this report.

I think that Corporate and Industrial intelligence gathering for hire is dangerous to all our liberties in an obleque way. I can envision vast improprieties as Blackwater will offer services to various competitors in ever escalating bids, sort of like professional athletes in a continuing decline of client loyality.

Maybe there is hope.

Perhaps their expertise could be used in a less rapacious, political, and para-military context. If our ports are as unguarded as is widely believed, maybe a contract to Blackwater to assist in this area will go far to take the 'bravado' they feel they must project in their efforts to fit into a military model out of their business mission.

Waaaaaa, poor Republican Storm Troopers. I wouldn't count them out for too long tho.... Always another war somewhere against brown folk to look forward to.

As a long time fan of science fiction, I've seen many plot lines where military powers don't serve governments, they serve corporations. As usually, some of these good authors has accurately predicted the not too distant future.

I call a lot of what I've read about concerning Iraq nothing less than bare-nekkid war profiteering, for Pete's sake, we've got what, 4 branches of the military there, all with guns and so forth, and they still need for-profit mercenaries besides? What kind of monkey circus ARE they running, over there, what gives? I hope Congress has the whole entire apparatus audited right down to the nub in a no-mercy effort to bring anything/everything to light that even looks halfway sleazy. The United States is bleeding money, and if the only reason that our troops are still in that country is because some parties are stuffing money down the front of their pants like there's no tomorrow, then recall our troops in toto and have done with it. How do you LOSE 15 billion dollars? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone? I don't even think the word 'fraud' really quite encompasses what's apparently been going on. That, and I just don't like mercenaries, and that's what Blackwater is, I think.

I still think they may be coming home because the action may be here.

You know I was a big fan of BlackWater at first but I can not say that now. Especially since they want there court caseto be heard in one instance in an Islamic court using sharia Law? Fvcking cprporate whore sell outs! Yes I am afriad these are the countries new security guards that will be coming to Federal and State buildings near you. Now if only a terror attack on UnitedStates soil will justify them being brought here for use! Scary though isn't it!

Fred some day one of those Republican Storm Troopers maybe saving your life. When as you say the (brown people) come here to cut off your head.

Blackwater, the name says it all,they are nothing but evil MF.

Why is Black water evil? They are doing the job that the gov is paying them to do. You should blame Congress for passing the funding bill. If I'm not mistaken The Dem's said they would stop the war, by stoping the funding. Just like the Dem's they say one thing and do another.

These Killers for Hire SHOULD go out of the security business. Their business is ripping off taxpayers and killing civilians. They should go out of business altogether

Blackwater has added two new facilities, one in Illinois and one in Colorado. Come to your own conclusions.

Many of the men with these paramilitary organizations are former U. S. Militart Special Operations Soldiers i.e. Army/Air Force Special Forces, Navy Seals, Marine Force Recon and are very highly trained in their respective fields. The U. S. Congress can not and will not let our military do the things that need to be done for political reasons so they contract these paramilitary organizations to do it covertly at times and sometimes with immunity from our government and other governments. I can see the need for them and I can appreciate that they are some of the best of the best at what they do. As an ex SpecOps operative I only wish I were twenty years younger. I'd be over there with them helping to protect the rights and safety of these bleeding heart liberal pukes at home