"The idea that Obama is making good on a campaign promise to end the war is playing with words,” says The Nation‘s Jeremy Scahill.

"The idea that Obama is making good on a campaign promise to end the war is playing with words,” says The Nation‘s Jeremy Scahill.

Intelligence veteran Robert Grenier, who worked covertly in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, recently offered a rare glimpse into the world of  privatized intelligence, Blackwater and the CIA assassination program.

The CIA says it can’t live without Blackwater. The State Department too. Could any of this be related to the big money Blackwater spends on Democratic lobbyists?

The private defense operation formerly known as Blackwater—now called Xe—has cleaned up its act about as much as BP has cleaned up the Gulf, says Jeremy Scahill.

The private defense operation formerly known as Blackwater—now called Xe—has cleaned up its act about as much as BP has cleaned up the Gulf, says Jeremy Scahill.

There’s no doubt, McChrystal was rightly relieved of his duties. But in the end, it was his words–not his actions–that sunk his ship. Blackwater’s ship of misconduct, crime and murder sails on, powered by new CIA contracts.

Indictments, investigations and scandals have not stopped the State Department from giving Blackwater another $120 million contract for "diplomatic security" in Afghanistan.

In the market for a private army? Jeremy Scahill says you can probably buy Blackwater from Erik Prince for cheap.

In the market for a private army? Jeremy Scahill says you can probably buy Blackwater from Erik Prince for cheap.