Old Blackwater, keep on rollin'

Perhaps he's had a change of heart, now that he's needed their help. In March 2008, according to Jeremy Scahill from The Nation, Obama heavily criticized the role of private armed security contractors in Iraq.

On Monday, Obama struck back. "Now, let me be clear: I actually introduced legislation in the Senate before Senator Clinton even mentioned this that said we had to crack down on private contractors like Blackwater because I don't believe that they should be able to run amok and put our own troops in danger, get paid three or four times or ten times what our soldiers are getting paid. I am the one who has been opposed to those operators.

Ok. That was back in March. I'll give the guy a break here. Perhaps his comments were just to save face against some harsh criticism from Hillary during a close primary season? After all, he is a politician. I'm sure he didn't really mean it. Or did he?

July 2, 2008
"When it comes to private contractors, there is room for private contractors to work in the mess hall providing basic supplies and doing some logistical work that might have been done in-house in the past. I am troubled by the use of private contractors when it comes to potential armed engagements. I think it puts our troops in harm's way. I think it creates some difficult morale issues when you've got private contractors getting paid 10 times what an Army private's getting paid for work that carries similar risks."

Enter Irony...Guess who provided the security during the Obama World Tour '08 last week? Yup. You guessed it...the same Blackwater operatives he thinks should only work in the mess hall.