Another story you won't read in the press

From Daily Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/22/12530/3415

The story as it appears in the traditional media:

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether employees of the private security firm Blackwater USA illegally smuggled into Iraq weapons that may have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, officials said Friday.

The story as it would be happening if the perpetrators didn't have federal contracts, fancy suits, and a PR firm:

Military intelligence officials are investigating whether members of the private security firm Blackwater USA illegally smuggled into Iraq weapons that may have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, officials said Friday.

Actual story:

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh, N.C., is handling the investigation with help from Pentagon and State Department auditors, who have concluded there is enough evidence to file charges, the officials told The Associated Press. Blackwater is based in Moyock, N.C.

What it should be:

Intelligence operatives in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are handling the investigation with help from the Pentagon and National Security Agency, who have concluded there is enough evidence to hold the suspects indefinitely, the officials told The Associated press. Blackwater is based in Moyock, N.C.

Once again, the actual story:

In Saturday's editions, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that two former Blackwater employees — Kenneth Wayne Cashwell of Virginia Beach, Va., and William Ellsworth "Max" Grumiaux of Clemmons, N.C. — are cooperating with federal investigators.

Cashwell and Grumiaux pleaded guilty in early 2007 to possession of stolen firearms that had been shipped in interstate or foreign commerce, and aided and abetted another in doing so, according to court papers viewed by The Associated Press. In their plea agreements, which call for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the men agreed to testify in any future proceedings.

No midnight arrests. No disappearances. No extraordinary rendition. No torture. No military commissions.

Just a straight up arrest, questioning, guilty plea, and agreement to cooperate with normal, everyday, routine federal investigative authorities.

But these guys were using your tax dollars to finance an arms-smuggling ring for terrorists, who were using the guns to kill American soldiers.

Seen it on the news? Heard about it from your Congressman? Watched FOX News jackass mouthpieces tear their hair out about it?

Of course not. Because in Republican Bizarro World, privatizing the armed forces "saves money" and "makes sense," even though Economics 101 (which Bush claimed to have gotten a B in, but really got a C-) tells you that a private army makes more money when demand for its services increases, and selling arms to the "enemy" makes sense both as a straight-up commercial transaction and as a way to increase demand.

Modern Republicanism is not a governing philosophy. It is legalized banditry. And you are supposed to wave a flag and give them medals while they rob you and kill your children.