As the Iraq conflict drags on, the controversial situation with Blackwater is rising to a boil. Many have been critical of their contribution to the war effort from day one. Since when does the US military rely on overpriced mercenaries to get the job done? Obviously, it doesn't. The job isn't getting done.

The unfortunate bridge incident on March 30th, 2004 was a shot across the bow, a clear warning that something was terribly awry. Blackwater mercenaries inadvertently wandered into the town of Fallujah, where their convoy was ambushed on a local bridge, resulting in the deaths of four Blackwater employees. The US military responded by slaughtering thousands in Fallujah.

The conflict in Iraq has never been the same. The absence of Saddam and his two thug-like sons did not improve the situation, nor did the elimination of key al Qaeda members. On the other hand, Blackwater has done a great deal to make the situation much worse. If the US was seeking disaster in Iraq, they could not have chosen a better outfit to spearhead the job. From day one, Blackwater has had disaster written all over them.

So now Blackwater is under investigation for committing blatant acts of murder in Baghdad, when one of their convoys opened fire in heavy traffic.
Of course, it's an accusation Blackwater chairman Erik Prince flatly denies, but even the US military is pointing the finger at Blackwater.

According to U.S. military reports from the scene of the Sept. 16th shooting incident, Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation and used excessive force against Iraqi civilians.

"It was obviously excessive, it was obviously wrong" said one US official familiar with the incident. "The civilians that were fired upon, they didn't have any weapons to fire back", he added, conflicting earlier statements made by Blackwater.

Well, I guess you know what they say buy it, it yours, or is it You break it, you fix it. Whatever. It all applies. It was inevitable this would come to a boil, but with an outfit like Blackwater, it is difficult to tell if the cauldron is
actually boiling, or if it's black contents are simply oozing out on their own.

Learn more about this author, B. Thomas Cooper.
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