Blackwater critic cops plea in assault of woman

A leading congressional critic of Blackwater has pleaded guilty in a case involving his alleged assault of a woman at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.

Congressman Bob Filner (D-Cal.) admitted he was guilty of trespassing, and copped an "Alford Plea" in which he did not admit guilt for assault and battery but did acknowledge that there was sufficient evidence to convict him. Rather than face trial for assault and battery, the crime with which he had been charged, Filner cut a deal and pled guilty to trespassing.

The congressman was to have stood trial for assault and battery on December 4.

In the August 19 incident at Dulles, Filner got agitated that his bags were being handled too slowly and violated security by illegally entering an employees-only area of the airport. It was there he entered the altercation with the woman who worked for an airline. He allegedly assaulted her.

"I want to make clear that I did not strike, push, or shove anyone,'' Filner said while copping his plea. ''It's very important to me that the record be clear on this point. Nor did I seek any sort of special treatment because I was a congressman."

Would Blackwater ever let this happen to its protectees?

The State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) failed to keep a bloody-handed kook from harassing the Secretary of State at a recent congressional hearing.

A professional who has worked high-profile security details brings us the photo on Blackfive, with the comment that Blackwater would never let such a thing happen to the diplomats under its protection. His headline: "Fire the DSS and keep Blackwater."