Though somewhat self-serving in nature, this piece is nonetheless important because it attempts to look at one seriously-overlooked aspect of the Iraq war -- the "contractors" of firepower. If it elicits media scrutiny it will have served a good purpose.

Amazing and chilling. The privatized army-without-accountability is now privatizing the counsel to the President attempt to deny widows information and deny their right to public speach?! Allegations that should get us all outraged.

A good story, although not unbiased, about how the Blackwater corporation is countersuing families looking for answers about how their relatives died in Iraq working for Blackwater. Deserves more media attention.

This is not the first story I've read about Blackwater doing the same type of thing--using their money and political muscle to get what they want, avoid what they don't like, and basically get away with murder. Though not objective, or particularly well-written, I'm afraid I completely believe it. And, just as money buys access to our legislators, it also buys the biggest guns in court. Until we change both, ordinary citizens are at a distinct disadvantage and this sort of ... More »

Makes very serious charges against Blackwell Corp. which seems to be instituting a SLAPP lawsuit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against the families of contractors killed at Fallujah. Article was written by lawyers of families suing Blackwater, and there is no claim of input to the article by Blackwater. A SLAPP lawsuit is a really underhanded technique used by a large and powerful entity involving the threat of legal action against a normal citizen where the ... More »

as this story reads, the company's actions sound so extreme; i'd like to have more information that provides a greater context

Mercenaries fighting America's wars? Yes, thanks to Vice President Dick Cheney and his ilk, who wants to privatize everything including the armed services. Aside from the huge fortunes to be made from the public trough (think Haliburton), sending mercenaries to war is less likely to limit an aggressive U.S. Foreign policy than sending your son and mine out to some godforsaken desert to die for oil or power. We the people might say NO. Blackwater isn't just any old Mercenary ... More »

Very one-sided with no response from Blackwater and no context for the timeline of the counterclaim. Very important story for all that and worth a read.