Prosecutors might be facing serious difficulties prosecuting Blackwater security guards involved in a September shooting that killed at least 17 Iraqis. Part of the problem is immunity granted to Blackwater employees and then there are questions whether a US law that applies to civilians employed by or accompanying the American military overseas might not apply to Blackwater. The loophole is that Blackwater's contract is with the State Department, not the military.

Then there are questions about Blackwater's alleged tax evasion.

But that hasn't stopped the Department of Defense giving Blackwater subsidiary Presidential Airways a $50 million-plus contract to perform work in Afghanistan, Kyrgystan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The work involves "heavy lift fixed-wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo (combi) Short Take-Off and Landing air transportation services."

Further evidence that the Bush administration is not serious about doing anything about Blackwater's atrocities. Indeed, it seems more intent on rewarding the company.