When President George W. Bush wanted to get around the Constitution in order to raise and support his own private army to provide protection for Coalition Provisional Authority chief L. Paul Bremer, Blackwater was there. When the president also wanted his own private army to operate on American soil, one of many disastrous moves by his administration during Hurricane Katrina, Blackwater was there. When seventeen Iraqi civilians were gunned down by foreigners in Nisoor Square, Blackwater was there. And now that pirates are ramping up their operations off the coast of Somalia, it looks like Blackwater will be there, too.

According to Blackwater Worldwide CEO and Founder, Erik Prince,

there have been 66 shipping and insurance companies who have contacted Blackwater about providing security for their shipping fleets that must operate in dangerous, lawless waters. And Blackwater is considering answering the call.

The question in my mind is “To whom will they answer for their crimes?” Blackwater has managed to avoid prosecution for many of its employees’ abuses. It helped that our own State Dept helped cover up several incidents. And, because of the immunity protection granted by the State Dept (can they even do that?), the Justice Dept may not be able to prosecute anyone for the massacre in Nisoor Square. So far, contractors working in Iraq have enjoyed immunity from prosecution for breaking Iraqi law, but that may change in the new “security” agreement. But who will prosecute Blackwater employees when they accidentally sink a ship off the coast of Somalia that turns out not to be pirates, or anyone else doing something illegal? Given the company’s track record, I say it’s just a matter of time.

: : : : : : : : : :