Blackwater currently has ~$340 million in security contracts with US

[sabra]

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/10/i-recently-obta.html#more

The State Department may be thinking about phasing out Blackwater. But it may be not able to afford to get rid of the controversial security firm -- not if it wants to keep its diplomats alive. I recently obtained a State Department document that outlines, among other things, the total annual costs of the State Department's outsourced security. It reveals a heavy, heavy reliance on Blackwater.

According to the document, private contracts currently provide security in seven areas under the Worldwide Personal Protective Services II (WPPS II) contract:

* Jerusalem,
* Kabul,
* Bosnia,
* Baghdad,
* Regional Embassy Office (REO) Basrah,
* REO Al Hillah, and
* REO Kirkuk (including USAID Erbil).

The document provides the following financial data on the total annual costs of the WPPS II contract for all areas of operation (e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Israel), broken down by the three contractors:

Blackwater $339,573,391
DynCorp 47,145,172
Triple Canopy 15,550,133
(Total) $402,268,696

The approximate total costs for Iraq only, inclusive of all contractors is $350,119,545.11.

[mmonk]

1. They need to be replaced with government security.

We need to restore our democracy.