Kerry's Words Suddenly Matter

Senator John Kerry's doing a lot of new posturing against Blackwater, saying the State Department should not renew its contract to provide high-end personal protection services to US officials - including visiting senators and congressmen - in Iraq.

“The era of Blackwater must finally end. The incoming Obama administration can proceed with the knowledge that even the Bush administration acknowledges that outsourcing overseas security to private firms like Blackwater is a mistake,” Kerry says.

Kerry's words matter now, because the Massachusetts senator is replacing Vice President-Elect Joe Biden as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which authorizes the money for the State Department to pay Blackwater.

Campaign corruption: Edwards attacks Blackwater as his trial lawyer former partner sues

Former Senator John Edwards, the trial lawyer now running for president, has made campaign statements attacking Blackwater - but has not revealed to the public that his friend and former law partner stands to make millions of dollars in pending litigation against the diplomatic security provider.

In an October 30 news release from his presidential campaign, Edwards called for a congressional investigation of State Department immunity for Blackwater contractors, and for a redoubling of Justice Department probes.

Edwards failed to disclose that one of the trial lawyers suing Blackwater, David Kirby, is his former partner. Kirby is the North Carolina end of the lawsuit brought forth by California trial lawyer Daniel Callahan. Callahan requested that Rep. Nancy Pelosi, now speaker, and Rep. Henry Waxman "initiate" hearings on Blackwater. Waxman complied, calling Callahan's clients as witnesses and has recycled the trial lawyer's legal briefs as congressional "investigative" documents.

Could Edwards be jumping on the anti-Blackwater issue to help his trial lawyer friend make money?

Partisanship seen as motivator for attacks

Political partisanship is seen as the prime motivator for the continued attacks on Blackwater. In an article titled "Democrats Target Blackwater," the Washington Times reports, "Congressional Democrats, frustrated by repeated failures to force an end to the war in Iraq, now are heaping criticism upon Blackwater USA and other private military contractors supporting the mission."

The paper cites the prime congressional critics of the company - all partisan Democrats - including: Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH); and Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Barack Obama (D-IL).

Another critic is former Senator John Edwards (D-NC), a presidential candidate who is trying to link Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to Blackwater.

One of Edwards' former trial lawyer partners stands to make millions presently by suing Blackwater, but Edwards has not revealed that apparent conflict of interest.