you remember Blackwater, right? That private army of mercenaries that killed 17 civilians in some fake attack. Even thought the investigation is still on going and the Iraqi people do not want them in country; their contract has been renewed.

In spite of the criminal probe, the State Department announced on Friday the firm’s contract to protect U.S. personnel in Baghdad would be renewed.

The State Department says Blackwater’s tactics have been changed to prevent further incidents like last year’s shooting.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the government believed its requests for tighter controls over Blackwater’s activities had been met.

“The demands of the Iraqi government have been taken into consideration and Blackwater will follow the Iraqi government’s laws. We were never against Blackwater’s work in Iraq, but the company has committed a mistake,” he said. Ordinary Iraqis were less tolerant.

“So far we haven’t passed laws governing the work of foreign companies. The government should have shown its influence and authority by taking the initiative,” said Saleem al-Jubouri, spokesman for the mainly Sunni Arab Accordance Front bloc.

“But the Americans want to show that Iraq is under their control. It’s a violation of the Iraqi judicial system.”

And there is the answer, the US is an occupying force and we will do what we want, regardless of the wishes of the Iraqi people and government.