Because we know, with Bush, that’s what it always comes down to. And since they’re mercenaries, there’s a lot of money to be put into willing Republican hands.* WaPo:

enior Iraqi officials repeatedly complained to U.S. officials about Blackwater USA’s alleged involvement in the deaths of numerous Iraqis, but the Americans took little action to regulate the private security firm until 11 Iraqis were shot dead last Sunday, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.

Before that episode, U.S. officials were made aware in high-level meetings and formal memorandums of Blackwater’s alleged transgressions. They included six violent incidents this year allegedly involving the North Carolina firm that left a total of 10 Iraqis dead, the officials said.

And then there’s the arms dealing:

n the United States, Blackwater is facing a possible federal investigation over allegations that it illegally smuggled weapons into Iraq that later might have been sold on the black market. n the United States, Blackwater is facing a possible federal investigation over allegations that it illegally smuggled weapons into Iraq that later might have been sold on the black market.

Condi’s dragging her stilletto heels:

U.S. Embassy officials have declined to comment on the probe and cautioned not to draw premature conclusions.

And the silly Iraqis, who think of themselves as a sovreign nation, aren’t happy:

Matthew Degn, who served as a senior adviser to the Interior Ministry’s intelligence directorate until his tour in Iraq ended last month, said Kamal and other ministry officials became increasingly frustrated by their inability to persuade U.S. officials to regulate Blackwater as allegations against the company mounted.

“Kamal went to State several times; he’s the one who’s been paying the price for this,” Degn said. “We had numerous discussions over his frustrations with Blackwater, but every time he contacted the [U.S.] government, it went nowhere.”

How odd. Or not. Here’s another incident:

Take the case of the Blackwater guard who got drunk at a Green Zone party last Christmas Eve and reportedly boasted to his friends that he was going to kill someone. According to both Iraqi and U.S. officials, he stumbled out and headed provocatively over to the “Little Venice” section, a lovely area of canals where Iraqi officials live. He had an argument with an Iraqi guard, then shot him once in the chest and three times in the back. The next day Blackwater put him on a private plane out of the country—probably only because the incident involved a rare killing inside the Green Zone and the victim was a security guard for a high-ranking politician. That was it. The company has refused to disclose his name.

Interestingly, Blackwater’s liaison with what we used to call a government is through State, i.e., through Condi, i.e. right to Bush personally (and not through DOD or the Fourth Branch of Government). Sounds to me like Dear Leader really does want a private army….

NOTE The lifted, separated, and brilliant Avedon has an excellent roundup here.

NOTE * And a lot of power to be grabbed. The criminal Bush regime already used Blackwater in NOLA, and now that they’ve destroyed the National Guard in Iraq, they may need to expand their domestic use. How nice for all of us.