Exactly as planned

There seems to be mass confusion about how Blackwater USA mercenaries, on the payroll of the US government, ended up shooting several Iraqi civilians in Baghdad recently. Eyewitnesses unconnected to Blackwater state that the mercenaries were not provoked. Or, possibly, that they panicked in response to a distant explosion. Or maybe they got cranky because of rush hour traffic. The official report states they were responding to small arms fire. Blackwater claims that in any case, the mercenaries' killing of eight civilians was lawful, and that they are immune from any and all legal consequences.

And you know what? They may be right.

Ain't it wonderful having a privately-owned and operated mercenary army that doesn't have to follow either US law, Iraqi law, or international law?

Blackwater USA is also aggressively seeking contracts to provide "homeland security" in the United States as well. And of course they're in line to cash in on the ever-profitable War On Drugs. Won't that be fun?