Media Mythbusters Blog

Cross-posted at Confederate Yankee:

I sent the following last night to a source intimately familiar with the Iraqi Interior Ministry:

…could the sudden [Iraqi government political] attack on Blackwater possibly be in retaliation for the “Jones Commission” report that panned the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior and advocated disbanding the national police?

…I would not be surprised if the backlash over Sunday’s shooting was planned, and waiting for an event to pin it on.

I wanted to know if the situation with Blackwater “smelled.”

His response:

Bob,

Blackwater doesn’t smell: It’s all about internal politics.

Bolani walks a thin line: he is a Shia without strong party
affiliations. He was the least objectionable Shia to a Sunni minority
who knew they’d never get one of their own into that Ministry.

Bolani is beholden to MNSTC-I/CPATT for supplies, training and money
— but he also needs support in Parliament and among tribal leaders to
get things done (recruiting, intelligence and minimizing attacks on his
police officers as they try to establish peace).

By attacking Blackwater and standing up to the US over this, he gains
internal support for projects that the US can’t help him with. He’ll
eventually back down because he can’t stay where he is without US
support, but he can’t advance internal security without assistance
from other groups as well.

I predict this will end in a compromise: a few people will be fired,
Blackwater will ratchet down their posture a bit and the mission will
continue.

Related thoughts here.

Update: Bryan has an excellent roundup on this subject at Hot Air, and there is more about contractor licensing at the Washington Times.