Blackwater finally beginning to boil over?

The international outcry over the recent Blackwater shootings forced the world to closely examine and appreciate the complex reality of the United States government's overdependence on private military contractors operating in Iraq.

The [September 16^th] incident in question regarding Blackwater needs to be put in a proper context. It's just one company out of 181 other private military companies operating in that space in Iraq. The incidents involving abuses of private military contractors [include Abu Ghraib (Torture Scandal), the private contractor Aegis Trophy's infamous 2005 video … showing them shooting at Iraqi civilians [and] the Triple Canopy shootings lawsuit in '06. Blackwater is just one of the companies in the game.

[Concerning the 20-minute Blackwater gun fight in September Nisoor Square shooting] a couple hours later, Secretary Condoleeza Rice calls up Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, which is extraordinary because she normally doesn't call him. She calls to express her sympathies and to apologize for this Blackwater incident. Over the next week, she and Ambassador Crocker have to keep going back to the Iraqis, and they are almost actually begging them to let Blackwater get back into business. One week later, Bush meets with Prime Minister Maliki face to face. … Top of the agenda is Blackwater.

Isn't it interesting that the same government individual, who has been reported by one investigative committee to have made the initial decision for Blackwater to get its first contract, is the brother of the current State Department Inspector General, who was found, by the same committee, to have [previously] intervened in preventing an investigation into Blackwater's illegal activity?

[Excerpt of an article by Wajahat Ali, Counterpunch]