Blackwater USA Chairman Erik Prince appeared before a House panel and tried to leave the impression that his corporation is equally, if not more, cost-effective than the regular U.S. military in Iraq. Does this mean that the U.S. government could replace the U.S. military with Blackwater employees? I certainly hope not. Blackwater`s personnel have a disproportionately high profile compared with that of the reportedly more than 130,000 other private contractors, who are mostly non-military, in Iraq. The ties of Blackwater executives to the Republican Party and to other conservative groups also are in question.

Prince thanked the committee for giving him the opportunity to `correct some facts,` but true facts can`t be corrected. Congress has some major decisions to make concerning private contractors. Will our military assume Blackwater`s duties, or will our nation`s security become increasingly privatized? If the latter occurs, there needs to be provision for stiff guidelines and enforced accountability.

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