A hidden story of the U.S. war on Iraq has been the use private contractors, a shadow force almost as big as the American army. The major company operating in Iraq and raking in millions of dollars in taxpayer money is Blackwater. The well-connected North Carolina-based firm is the elite Praetorian Guard of the so-called war on terror. Blackwater and other private armies apparently operate with no supervision or oversight. Their crimes go unpunished. Gen William Caldwell, the top spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq, said: "Contractors are out of our lane, and we don't comment on them."

Jeremy Scahill is the author of the bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army He is the recipient of the Polk Award for journalism. He is a frequent contributor to"The Nation magazine and "Democracy Now!"