The mercenaries now have to answer to the military

The Department of Defense and the State Department finalized an agreement on Wednesday that gives the military authority over all of the State Department security contractors mercenaries that operate in Iraq.

This turn of events was precipitated by a bloody, murderous rampage in Nisour Square in Baghdad on September 16 that left 17 civilians dead and several more wounded. Blackwater insisted their thugs personnel were under attack, but the forensics put the lie to those claims.

U.S. military commanders have complained long and loud, since the earliest days of the invasion, about the cowboys in the Ray-Bans who shoot first and don't even stick around to ask any questions later. The cowboys move about the battle space, and don't bother to tell the military that they are on the move. They undermine the mission (whatever it is this week) and they aggravate the situation and aggrieve the locals.

Let's make sure to give credit where credit is due: Bob Gates started moving pieces around the board immediately after the unprovoked attack, attempting to get the "contractors" under control. I've said this before and I'll probably say it again about Gates: I don't like the man, but I respect the talent. Sometimes, I can almost admire the old prick. Almost...