Blackwater's crusade.

According to a disturbing interview on the NPR program Fresh Air today, it seems that the U.S. now has the largest mercenary army in our history -- and in the world -- with its own intelligence service and air force. There are more U.S.military contractors in Afghanistan today than U.S. troops.

Blackwater, renamed Xe, is the largest contractor and is run by Erik Prince, who according to sworn affidavits of former employees, "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

Blackwater is entirely funded by U.S. tax dollars, yet is accountable to no one. It's doubtful that its employees could be prosecuted for rape or murder since Dick Cheney and others made sure they were exempt from U.S. law, and the laws of the nations we invaded. According to the author of the articles cited above (and others who've reported on this) Blackwater employees are making some targeting decisions instead of U.S. troops.

But whether or not it's a good idea for the U.S. be on a crusade to wipe out Islam is immaterial at this point. We've made sure Erik Prince has a strong profit motive to get the job done.

A mere 16 years ago, our greatest national fear was about private domestic militias dedicated to bringing down our government. Perhaps in our paranoia about external terrorists, we've already forgotten our own recent history.