Clinton over Obama on Blackwater et al.

From Democracy Now!

On Thursday, Jeremy Scahill, Democracy Now! correspondent and author of “Blackwater,” reported that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would not “rule out” using private military companies like Blackwater Worldwide in Iraq.

Hours later, rival candidate Hillary Clinton called for a ban on the use of private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a statement posted on her website, Clinton said she would co-sponsor a measure to ban the use of Blackwater and other private military firms.

Although Sen. Clinton's surprising move is laudable, Scahill is sceptical:

Her timing was interesting, to say the least. Why February 28, in the middle of a tough political campaign? Why not after last September's Nisour Square massacre, when Blackwater operatives killed seventeen Iraqi civilians? Or, better, before it? Regardless, this makes Clinton the most significant US political figure to date to issue such a call. We will be monitoring closely how much of a legislative priority this becomes for Senator Clinton.

In my humble opinion, this is one of those occasions where, as long as the politician actuallyt does the right thing, I really don't care why.