Mission Creeps

During an interview on ABC television's Sunday news show "This Week," Director of Central Intelligence Leon Panetta rationalized a $100-million contract with the controversial firm formerly named Blackwater to provide "security services" in Afghanistan.

Director Panetta claimed during the interview that his agency did not have much choice but to turn to one of the few firms capable of providing large-scale security services in war zones... Read killers for hire. These guys are mostly ex-special forces, not mall cops.

Another $120-million went to the same company in the form of a State Department contract announced the same week. Mercenaries employed by Blackwater, whose new new corporate name is Xe Services, may be the ones who go where official forces can't, in pursuit of those who aren't where we are anymore.

Audio Embed: Dave Ross, KIRO-FM/Seattle, 6/28/10.