Hopefully, President Obama will quickly put a stop to the wholesale privatization of our entire national security apparatus. This is truly frightening.

"The people who foot the sizable bill for its "services" almost never know, until it is too late, what Blackwater is doing, and there are apparently no consequences for Blackwater when things go lethally wrong."

With reps like these, how could these middle eastern countries fail to go for the gusto of forced democratization in all it's glory? Such a deal.

The beauty part of this is that it is all funded by our tax dollars, so private companies can spy on us, "police" us in case we get, you know, uppity and its all done with money we pay. Its a win win.

they are an insidious outfit. just imagine all the loyalty they'll instill thru police depts across the country, once their 'training facilities' get up and running. hookers, booze, gunsgunsguns for all those rootin' tootin' pistol-packing he-men who wear the blackwater insignia. hell, it's better than free viagra.

Those familiar with the CIA recognize that there has always been a institutionalized rogue element in the special operation branch, the "cowboy culture". Prince and his Republican confederates have figured out how to free that element from governmental constraints. We pay for their training, and they use it to their own profit - it is government-subsidized mercenaries.

What mechanisims are in place for supervising and policing their actions? Next to none.

Will they be threatened by the election of a Democrat? Yes.

Might they undertake, on their own, the "dirty tricks" they've long practiced to interfere in other democratic elections? Yes.

Blackwater is a viper, and we've installed it in our living room.

All praise the efficient free market!

So what happens when Blackwater finds higher bidders from China and the House of Saud?

And as usual in this kind of "Blackwater" affair, Congress will sit on its ass and do nothing until it's too late.

Additionally, anyone who thinks Blackwater will not be hired by corporations to spy on Americans, whether they be company employees or simply protesting citizens, needs to think again.

As a protestor at the G8 meeting in Brunswick, Ga., I personally saw the U.S. military there in uniform taking pictures of the protestors.

Unfortunately, the number of protestors was small, and one out of every nine "protestors" was an undercover person.

My government fears me.

You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

This is another scary nightmare we are facing....private for profit based armies exempt from laws and penalties...including a spy branch...heaven help us!

Give them time enough and one day these private militaries will be fighting on opposite sides.

Think about it.

You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

Ed: Let's see...no financial accountability (spy stuff), vast profits at taxpayer expense, no checks and balances. Sounds like the ideal business. That's what I want my kid to do. We don't need no stinkin' congress.

Ned: Private armies, controlled by warlords. Even in the US because the warlords smile and wear suits with spiffy ties. And flag lapel pins. If all the private armies have one boss, what do you have? A dictator with secret police.

Decisions decisions. Profit or Constitution? That's a real toughie.

In the UK they have a "Shadow" government. These are members of the opposition party, that are ready to assume leadership (cabinet) positions when they win an ELECTION.

This looks like a government in waiting. Just looking for an opportunity, a moment of our ambivolence, a weekening in representative democracy, to take over. In Latin America they call that, a Junta.